Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Uncertainty, Modeling and Safety Assurance: Towards a Unified Framework

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Verified Software. Theories, Tools, and Experiments (VSTTE 2019)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 12031))

Abstract

Uncertainty occurs naturally in software systems, including those that are model-based. When such systems are safety-critical, they need to be assured, e.g., by arguing that the system satisfies its safety goals. But how can we rigorously reason about assurance in the presence of uncertainty? In this paper, we propose a vision for a framework for managing uncertainty in assurance cases for software systems, and in particular, for model-based software systems, by systematically identifying, assessing and addressing it. We also discuss a set of challenges that need to be addressed to realize this framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. GSN, Goal Structuring Notation Working Group, GSN Community Standard Version 1 (2011). http://www.goalstructuringnotation.info/

  2. Burgueño, L., Bertoa, M.F., Moreno, N., Vallecillo, A.: Expressing confidence in models and in model transformation elements. In: Proceedings of MODELS 2018, pp. 57–66 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dalal, S.R., et al.: Model-based testing in practice. In: Proceedings of the ICSE 1999, pp. 285–294 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Blazy, B., DeLine, A., Frey, B., Miller, M.: Software Requirements Specification (SRS) lane management system. Michigan State University (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  5. ISO 26262: Road vehicles - functional safety. International Organization for Standardization, 1st version (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ramirez, A.J., Jensen, A.C., Cheng, B.H.: A taxonomy of uncertainty for dynamically adaptive systems. In: Proceedings of the SEAMS 2012, pp. 99–108 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang, M., Selic, B., Ali, S., Yue, T., Okariz, O., Norgren, R.: Understanding uncertainty in cyber-physical systems: a conceptual model. In: Wąsowski, A., Lönn, H. (eds.) ECMFA 2016. LNCS, vol. 9764, pp. 247–264. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42061-5_16

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Mayerhofer, T., Wimmer, M., Vallecillo, A.: Adding uncertainty and units to quantity types in software models. In: Proceedings of the SLE 2016, pp. 118–131 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bertoa, M.F., Moreno, N., Barquero, G., Burgueño, L., Troya, J., Vallecillo, A.: Expressing measurement uncertainty in OCL/UML datatypes. In: Pierantonio, A., Trujillo, S. (eds.) ECMFA 2018. LNCS, vol. 10890, pp. 46–62. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92997-2_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Hawkins, R., Kelly, T., Knight, J., Graydon, P.: A new approach to creating clear safety arguments. In: Dale, C., Anderson, T. (eds.) Advances in Systems Safety, pp. 3–23. Springer, London (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-133-2_1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Holzmann, G.J.: Mars code. Commun. ACM 57(2), 64–73 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cârlan, C., Ratiu, D., Schätz, B.: On using results of code-level bounded model checking in assurance cases. In: Skavhaug, A., Guiochet, J., Schoitsch, E., Bitsch, F. (eds.) SAFECOMP 2016. LNCS, vol. 9923, pp. 30–42. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45480-1_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Mens, T., Van Gorp, P.: A taxonomy of model transformation. Electron. Notes Theoret. Comput. Sci. 152, 125–142 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Salay, R., Famelis, M., Chechik, M.: Language independent refinement using partial modeling. In: de Lara, J., Zisman, A. (eds.) FASE 2012. LNCS, vol. 7212, pp. 224–239. Springer, Heidelberg (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28872-2_16

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Famelis, M., Salay, R., Chechik, M.: Partial models: towards modeling and reasoning with uncertainty. In: Proceedings of the ICSE 2012, pp. 573–583 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Salay, R., Chechik, M., Horkoff, J., Di Sandro, A.: Managing requirements uncertainty with partial models. J. Requirements Eng. 18(2), 107–128 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Eramo, R., Pierantonio, A., Rosa, G.: Managing uncertainty in bidirectional model transformations. In: Proceedings of the SLE 2015, pp. 49–58 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bucaioni, A., Cicchetti, A., Ciccozzi, F., Mubeen, S., Pierantonio, A., Sjödin, M.: Handling uncertainty in automatically generated implementation models in the automotive domain. In: Proceedings of the SEAA 2016, pp. 173–180 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Maksimov, M., Fung, N.L.S., Kokaly, S., Chechik, M.: Two decades of assurance case tools: a survey. In: Gallina, B., Skavhaug, A., Schoitsch, E., Bitsch, F. (eds.) SAFECOMP 2018. LNCS, vol. 11094, pp. 49–59. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99229-7_6

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Maksimov, M., Kokaly, S., Chechik, M.: A survey of tool-supported assurance case assessment techniques. ACM Comput. Surv. 52, 1–34 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Luo, Y., van den Brand, M., Li, Z., Saberi, A.K.: A Systematic approach and tool support for GSN-based safety case assessment. J. Syst. Archit. 76, 1–16 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bloomfield, R., Bishop, P.: Safety and assurance cases: past, present and possible future-an adelard perspective. In: Dale, C., Anderson, T. (eds.) Making Systems Safer, pp. 51–67. Springer, London (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-086-1_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Czarnecki, K., Salay, R.: Towards a framework to manage perceptual uncertainty for safe automated driving. In: Gallina, B., Skavhaug, A., Schoitsch, E., Bitsch, F. (eds.) SAFECOMP 2018. LNCS, vol. 11094, pp. 439–445. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99229-7_37

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Famelis, M., Chechik, M.: Managing design-time uncertainty. Softw. Syst. 18(2), 1249–1284 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kokaly, S., Salay, R., Sabetzadeh, M., Chechik, M., Maibaum, T.: Model management for regulatory compliance: a position paper. In: Proceedings of the MiSE 2016, pp. 74–80 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kokaly, S., Salay, R., Cassano, V., Maibaum, T., Chechik, M.: A model management approach for assurance case reuse due to system evolution. In: Proceedings of the MODELS 2016, pp. 196–206 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Famelis, M., Salay, R., Di Sandro, A., Chechik, M.: Transformation of models containing uncertainty. In: Moreira, A., Schätz, B., Gray, J., Vallecillo, A., Clarke, P. (eds.) MODELS 2013. LNCS, vol. 8107, pp. 673–689. Springer, Heidelberg (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41533-3_41

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Marsha Chechik, Sahar Kokaly, Mona Rahimi, Rick Salay & Torin Viger

Authors
  1. Marsha Chechik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sahar Kokaly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mona Rahimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rick Salay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Torin Viger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marsha Chechik .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

    Supratik Chakraborty

  2. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Jorge A. Navas

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Chechik, M., Kokaly, S., Rahimi, M., Salay, R., Viger, T. (2020). Uncertainty, Modeling and Safety Assurance: Towards a Unified Framework. In: Chakraborty, S., Navas, J. (eds) Verified Software. Theories, Tools, and Experiments. VSTTE 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12031. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41600-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41600-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-41599-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-41600-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation