Systems Engineering
The System Engineering Theme comprises a group of researchers actively involved in systems engineering research related to the development and integration of large socio-technical and complex systems, in particular, but not limited to the defence domain.
Our interests are focussed on:
- Systems Engineering processes at all levels within the enterprise.
- Technical processes related to the related to the definition, design, implementation, integration, verification, validation, acquisition, operation, maintenance and disposal of large, complex systems.
- The Philosophy and Science of Systems Engineering Research and Education.
Within these three overarching activities are found discipline areas
such as test & evaluation, knowledge management, logistics, support
engineering and design. The overall goal of DASIs research in the area
of interest complex systems engineering can be summarised as: conduct
applied research, and apply knowledge to the solution of consequential
problems, that improves the effectiveness of the creation of large,
complex systems.
Current Projects
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| Systems Science Background Research | Characteristics of Quality for Software Engineering Processes |
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Slim Requirements Engineering Toolkit
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Systems engineering tool selection for small-medium enterprises |
Systems Engineering
Key People
Staff
Associate Professor Neil Davidson
Dr Viv Crouch
Dr Tim Ferris
Dr Stephen Russell
Mr Peter Hamilton
Mr Stan Nowakowski
Students
Mr Trent Kroeger
Mr Gerry Paz
Mr Carl Roberts
Mrs Xuan-Lin Tran
Systems Engineering Projects
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Systems Engineering Background Research Many DASI members in particular Prof Cook, Dr Tim Ferris and Mr Eric Honour are active in INCOSE in defining the underpinning sciences that inform systems engineering practice. All are members of the INCOSE Systems Science Enabling Group that is establishing that body's position on the topic. This activity is internally supported by DASI and results in good publication output and significant international exposure. |
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Systems engineering tool selection for small-medium enterprises Many of the subsystems developed by the Australian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are integrated into military systems developed by larger companies. If the SMEs cannot win and sustain defence contracts to develop the subsystems because of their lack of systems capability, then the ability of the Australian Defence to develop and deploy needed systems will be adversely affected. By systems capability it is meant effectual use of sound systems engineering (SE) processes and effective use of SE tools. This research investigates the SE ... |
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Enterprise Capability improvement for Defence SMEs The purpose of the study “Better Ways for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to do Business with the Department of Defence†is to determine the characteristics of successful Defence Industry SMEs and build a set of business development methodologies that are complementary to each other to enhance the capabilities of all Defence SMEs. The methodologies should be generic enough so that they can be used directly or with slight customisation by SMEs when tendering for... |
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Characteristics of Quality for Software Engineering Processes Software now pervades almost every aspect of modern society. The software industry is under pressure to develop and deliver an increasing volume of high-quality products and services within cost and schedule constraints that are tighter than ever before. Increasingly, software engineering organisations are looking to software engineering process as a means to integrate software project activities, based on the premise that the quality of the process will influence the quality, cost and time... |
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Systems Engineering Return on Investment This task is providing a small partial scholarship to Mr Eric Honour who is undertaking a PhD in the value of Systems Engineering. Mr Honour is acquiring data from around the world on the savings that sensible application of systems engineering can bring to projects from around $1m to over $1bn. To date he has published numerous influential... |
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Slim Requirements Engineering Toolkit The objective of the Tools De../velopment task is to identify and implement systems engineering information environments that will enable SMEs to successfully engage in projects led by defence prime contractors. Requirements elicitation is complete and the project has entered the second phase that will provide the functionality requested by industry. |
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Systems engineering tool integration framework Software tools admin and management across industry is notoriously poorly designed (if at all) and implemented. This research aims to highlight and redress this deficit by exploring and discussing the main and subsidiary facets within “General Software Tools Admin and Management†that most effect overall efficiency in a broad operational sense. A (non-exhaustive) list of these facets includes tool invocation, tool compatibility/data flow, version selection/obsolescence and the ‘latest is greatest’ mentality, design environment... |
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Experimentation of Complex Aerospace Mission Capabilities This research project is being jointly conducted between BAE Systems and the University of South Australia through CEDISC. The project is researching into safety and mission critical avionic systems in the Australian defence environment, which ... |
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Research Information System Support Methodology The aim of the research is to produce a computer-assisted methodology coordinating a system engineering approach with software management good practices, to assist novice project managers in a Research and Development environment to produce software-intensive systems using, when possible, COTS components." |










