Overview: This presentation explores approaches in Model-Based Systems Engineering that provide benefits for transport and infrastructure projects. These projects can be characterised by a focus on a detailed systems architecture, and the need for consistency and traceability in applying this architecture across multiple geographic locations. Using examples in an MBSE tool, this presentation will demonstrate how to rapidly build a coherent system model and provide meaningful artifacts to stakeholders and design teams.
Context: A simplistic approach is often taken to systems architecture in teaching and initial project implementation. There is a system of interest, which is built from a hierarchy of systems components (from segments and subsystems down to individual configuration items). In many large projects, the physical systems architecture can be multi-dimensional, with multiple levels of system breakdowns, with implementation at multiple locations, along with the need for specific customisations or variants.
Purpose: A sample model being presented demonstrates the basic characteristics of a rail transport infrastructure project. This sample is explored and extended via features available in MBSE tools, to show techniques that can improve the quality, speed and consistency of the models and artefacts being produced.
Approach: For this approach, practical methods from product-line engineering, in object-oriented methods and in existing model-based systems engineering tools are explored and demonstrated. This includes aspects of model reuse, abstraction, inheritance and parameterisation, specifically applied to the physical architecture of a systems model.
Insights: Using these techniques, improvements can be shown in the “elegance of design” (defined by forming the least complex sufficient solution), the minimisation of effort in modelling (and increased efficiency of implementing changes), and the quality, clarity and consistency of diagrams and representations drawn from the model content.