25,852 research outputs found
A synthesis of logic and biology in the design of dependable systems
The technologies of model-based design and dependability analysis in the design of dependable systems, including software intensive systems, have advanced in recent years. Much of this development can be attributed to the application of advances in formal logic and its application to fault forecasting and verification of systems. In parallel, work on bio-inspired technologies has shown potential for the evolutionary design of engineering systems via automated exploration of potentially large design spaces. We have not yet seen the emergence of a design paradigm that combines effectively and throughout the design lifecycle these two techniques which are schematically founded on the two pillars of formal logic and biology. Such a design paradigm would apply these techniques synergistically and systematically from the early stages of design to enable optimal refinement of new designs which can be driven effectively by dependability requirements. The paper sketches such a model-centric paradigm for the design of dependable systems that brings these technologies together to realise their combined potential benefits
A synthesis of logic and bio-inspired techniques in the design of dependable systems
Much of the development of model-based design and dependability analysis in the design of dependable systems, including software intensive systems, can be attributed to the application of advances in formal logic and its application to fault forecasting and verification of systems. In parallel, work on bio-inspired technologies has shown potential for the evolutionary design of engineering systems via automated exploration of potentially large design spaces. We have not yet seen the emergence of a design paradigm that effectively combines these two techniques, schematically founded on the two pillars of formal logic and biology, from the early stages of, and throughout, the design lifecycle. Such a design paradigm would apply these techniques synergistically and systematically to enable optimal refinement of new designs which can be driven effectively by dependability requirements. The paper sketches such a model-centric paradigm for the design of dependable systems, presented in the scope of the HiP-HOPS tool and technique, that brings these technologies together to realise their combined potential benefits. The paper begins by identifying current challenges in model-based safety assessment and then overviews the use of meta-heuristics at various stages of the design lifecycle covering topics that span from allocation of dependability requirements, through dependability analysis, to multi-objective optimisation of system architectures and maintenance schedules
Accredited qualifications for capacity development in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
Increasingly practitioners and policy makers working
across the globe are recognising the importance of
bringing together disaster risk reduction and climate
change adaptation. From studies across 15 Pacific island
nations, a key barrier to improving national resilience
to disaster risks and climate change impacts has been
identified as a lack of capacity and expertise resulting
from the absence of sustainable accredited and quality
assured formal training programmes in the disaster risk
reduction and climate change adaptation sectors. In the
2016 UNISDR Science and Technology Conference
on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, it was raised that
most of the training material available are not reviewed
either through a peer-to-peer mechanism or by the
scientific community and are, thus, not following quality
assurance standards. In response to these identified
barriers, this paper focuses on a call for accredited formal
qualifications for capacity development identified in the
2015 United Nations landmark agreements in DRR and
CCA and uses the Pacific Islands Region of where this
is now being implemented with the launch of the Pacific
Regional Federation of Resilience Professionals, for
DRR and CCA. A key issue is providing an accreditation
and quality assurance mechanism that is shared across
boundaries. This paper argues that by using the United
Nations landmark agreements of 2015, support for a
regionally accredited capacity development that ensures
all countries can produce, access and effectively use
scientific information for disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation. The newly launched Pacific
Regional Federation of Resilience Professionals who
work in disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation may offer a model that can be used more
widely
Regional trends and controlling factors of fatal landslides in Latin America and the Caribbean
A new data set of landslides that caused loss of life in Latin America and the
Caribbean in the 10-year period from 2004 and 2013 inclusive has been
compiled, providing new insight into the impact of landslides in this key
part of the world. This data set indicates that in the 10-year period a total
of 11 631 people lost their lives across the region in 611 landslides. The
geographical distribution of the landslides is highly heterogeneous, with
areas of high incidence in parts of the Caribbean (most notably Haiti),
Central America, Colombia, and southeast Brazil. There is significant interannual
variation in the number of landslides, with the El Niño/La Niña cycle
emerging as a key control. Our analysis suggests that on a continental scale
the mapped factors that best explain the observed distribution are
topography, annual precipitation and population density. On a national basis
we have compared the occurrence of fatality-inducing landslide occurrence
with the production of locally authored research articles, demonstrating that
there is a landslide research deficit in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Understanding better the mechanisms, distribution causes and triggers of
landslides in Latin America and the Caribbean must be an essential first step
towards managing the hazard
Towards Identifying and closing Gaps in Assurance of autonomous Road vehicleS - a collection of Technical Notes Part 1
This report provides an introduction and overview of the Technical Topic Notes (TTNs) produced in the Towards Identifying and closing Gaps in Assurance of autonomous Road vehicleS (Tigars) project. These notes aim to support the development and evaluation of autonomous vehicles. Part 1 addresses: Assurance-overview and issues, Resilience and Safety Requirements, Open Systems Perspective and Formal Verification and Static Analysis of ML Systems. Part 2: Simulation and Dynamic Testing, Defence in Depth and Diversity, Security-Informed Safety Analysis, Standards and Guidelines
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