Scientific publications

A system functions as part of a broader enterprise. For the design of a system understanding is required of its purpose within the enterprise, as well as of its internal functioning. Models are a means to create and capture understanding. Many different models are needed during the design of a system, from broad enterprise models down to detailed implementation models of components or functions.

In this paper, we present a dynamic analysis approach to increase the understandability of a large softwareintensive system, more particularly to enable the identification of dependencies between its execution entities. This approach analyzes the execution of a software system in a top-down fashion to cope with complexity and uses execution entities such as scenarios, components, and processes rather than code artifacts such as modules, classes, or objects.

Conformance testing for labeled transition systems starts with defining when an implementation conforms to its specification. One of the formal theories for model-based testing uses the implementation relation ioco for this purpose. A peculiar aspect of ioco is to consider the absence of outputs as an observable action, named quiescence.

During the last three years, we have been experimenting with the use of the Uppaal model checker in an introductory course on operating systems for first-year Computer Science students at the Radboud University Nijmegen. The course uses model checkers as a tool to explain, visualize and solve concurrency problems.

The high-tech manufacturing industry, dominated by large multinational corporations, faces pressure to innovate faster to remain competitive, producing more sophisticated machines with better performance and quality. In recent years, besides the push for better performance, sustainability and circularity have also gained importance, due to (1) regulations that are becoming broader in scope, stricter in thresholds, and more complex in requirements, (2) customer demands and expectations and (3) internal strategic objectives.

This report examines the challenge of strengthening and formalizing a Software Maintenance and Evolution (SMEvo) ecosystem for the Dutch high-tech industry. Maintenance and evolution of long-lived, software-intensive systems account for a large part, estimated between 75% and 90%, of software lifecycle costs.

High-tech systems are growing more complex due to mass customization, integration of diverse technologies, and long lifecycle demands. Customers increasingly expect service contracts based on performance and availability, yet diagnostics remain largely reactive and reliant on human expertise. This position paper proposes a Pervasive Intelligent Diagnostics (PID) framework that integrates pervasive sensing, model-based digital twins, and hybrid AI for predictive diagnostics and sustainable lifecycle management.

In today’s digital landscape, organizations are increasingly seeking to introduce cybersecurity measures within their systems. The recent cyber-attacks fuelled by the geopolitical tensions indicated the true importance of being cyber-resilient. However, many organizations face significant challenges in starting this process.

The Dutch energy transition is entering an important next phase. Achieving a climate-neutral, resilient, and future -proof energy system by 2050 will require a significant acceleration in the development, integration, and operation of energy infrastructure. The sector is confronted with major challenges: rapidly increasing electricity demand, the electrification of industry and homes, the integration of renewable energy sources, limited public space, complex permitting processes, and a persistent shortage of skilled personnel.