Applying the VDM formalism across systems engineering lifecycles

Abstract

While Systems Engineering has come a long way since its early beginning over six decades ago, it is still facing challenges in gaining the same degree of rigour and precision that is found in the theorical foundation of other engineering domains. Systems Engineering has always incorporate tools and methods from other engineering domains and adapted them to fit the purpose of engineering systems. This paper explores the feasibility of expanding the theoretical foundation of systems engineering through the use of the theoretical foundation of the Software Engineering domain, specifically the use of formal methods. A study is presented on the applicability of one of most well-established formal methods notations, the Vienna Development Method (VDM), across a classic systems engineering life cycle using a systems engineering case study.