Infrastructure to Support Teaching and Research in the Systems Engineering of Evolving Systems

This paper describes a joint project that is being undertaken by the University of South Australia and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation to construct a laboratory-based capability to support teaching and research into systems engineering and systems evolution using a model-based systems integration approach. The paper opens with a description of the focus and intent of the overarching Centre of Expertise agreement and proceeds to describe the flagship Microcosm programme that seeks to implement the subject of the paper. The societal, educational, and sponsor needs are described next and this is followed by a description of the architectural design of Microcosm. It is shown how model-based system engineering concepts are included in the design of the information repository, the simulation system, and in the associated physical realisation of the system, address the original needs statements. The paper concludes with a status report on the achievements to date and a discussion on future plans.