Committee Meeting

This event will explore a complex real world problem using a systems approach, and provide visibility of some of the specific analysis techniques available. Delegates will get exposure to three different Systems Engineering problem solving approaches:

The London Overground East London Line Project (ELLP) will extend an existing London Underground line to form a new metro-type railway linking to the North London Line and with National Rail services to the south of the River Thames...

Interfaces are probably the hardest part of engineering a system, and the part most prone to late surprises. Yet in Systems Engineering, interfaces and interactions give us the emergent system properties, which are so powerful if harnessed properly. This presentation will feature Bob Dale giving practical examples of interfaces and real anecdotes from his own experience, with comments from other areas of Systems Engineering.

Local Group Grogramme

In response to this worldwide demand, INCOSE, (the International Council on Systems Engineering), is developing a scheme to provide formal recognition of systems engineering professionalism at a number of levels, from associate to expert.

Systems Engineering and Project or Programme Management need to be linked effectively to promote the prospects of success in complex systems development. It is the objective of this evening to explore the interfaces between the disciplines with a view to improving understanding of the differing viewpoints and the opportunities to improve practice. With speakers from both professional bodies it is a topic that we would expect to see stimulate a lively debate. To ensure that discussions stay grounded in reality, we also have an end-user representative with years of experience of waiting for capabilities to actually be delivered!

Most people think of verification and validation as things that only get done towards the end of system development. This workshop turns that notion on its head and will set out to explore the central role that V&V should play throughout the lifecycle of any successful system. The event will feature three facilitators with long and varied experience of verifying and validating systems (and systems of systems) across different domains.

‘Putting Systems Engineering to Work’

Systems engineering is being applied to the Public Private Partnership [PPP] delivery programme of Metronet for stations, signalling and trains. Within this wider context, Atkins has derived a Comprehensive Approach to Systems Engineering [CASE] which includes some novel interpretations of the traditional systems engineering methods to make them representative of the built environment of the railway. CASE was developed to meet a demanding delivery programme whose key drivers are station delivery dates.

Whether it is a full blown flight simulator, a wooden mock-up, or a humble spreadsheet crunching representative numbers, some form of simulation or operational analysis should be an important tool in the systems engineer’s toolbox (and it’s often more fun than requirements). This event will feature invited speakers explaining how they have used various simulation and operational analysis techniques to feed insights back into the systems engineering process.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel: Genius or Great Systems Engineer? 40, Melton Street, Euston, London, NW1 2EE 1700H for 1730H, Wednesday 6th June 2007 Although conceived as a tribute to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this illustrated talk by Associate Professor Felix Schmid, also deals with some of the achievements of his father, Marc Brunel. It was originally prepared for the bicentenary of Isambard’s birth but has been modified since to include new information received.