School of Electronics and Computer Science:
COMP6038 Safety Critical Systems
Basic Information
| School | |
|---|---|
| Known as | COMP6038. |
| Status | This syllabus is still provisional. |
| Session and Semester | Semester One, 2011 - 2012 |
| Credit | 10 Credit Points |
| Unit Leader | Dr. Michael R. Poppleton |
| Moderators | Dr Ken S Thomas |
| Study | 76 hours private study |
| Assessment | 70% Examination 30% Coursework |
| Coursework | Technical report |
| Teaching | 24 lectures |
| Referral | On referral, this unit will be assessed 100% by examination. |
| Syllabus Approved |
Description
Aims
- To consider the special needs and techniques required in critical system software development
- To encourage students to explore the associated professional issues and to be aware of current thinking on product liability and safety-critical software
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Concepts and terminology of system safety
- Risk and hazard analysis in system safety
- The use of formal methods on system development to dependability
- Approaches to systems security assurance
Intellectual Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- apply hazard analysis techniques in critical system development
- write system specifications using the B notation
- analyse and refine specifications using the B toolkit
General Transferable (key) Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- Perform basic risk assessment of working or public environments
- Plan technical activities more accurately
Topics Covered
- Introduction to hazard analysis techniques: Fault-Tree Analysis, HAZOP, FME Analysis
- Assurance of system security
- Overview of formal methods and their role in ensuring safety
- B formal method: notation methodology, toolkit
Teaching and learning activities
Teaching methods include
- Two lectures per week
- Short practical demonstrations to illustrate the intellectual and practical skills associated with the course
Learning activities include
- The coursework is used to develop the students ability to apply hazard analysis and formal modelling to safety-critical systems
- Revision for the written examination
Methods of assessment
| Assessment method | Number | % contribution to final mark |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis and Modelling Assignment [cwork] | 1 | 30 |
| Closed Book Exam [exam] | 1 | 70 |
Feedback and student support during module study
- While the coursework is on-going, a lecture slot is set aside to provide support and answer queries about the coursework
- Feedback is also provided when the coursework is marked
Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods and the planned learning outcomes
- The lectures provide the information and explain the relationships to enable students to develop the knowledge and understanding listed in the learning outcomes, which are assessed mainly through the written examination
- The demonstrations and practical exercises prepare students for the assignment
- The assignment allows students to demonstrate their achievement of the practical objectives
Resources
Core Resources
- Neil Storey, Safety Critical Computer Systems, Prentice Hall, 1996
- Steve Schneider, The B-Method: An Introduction. Palgrave 2001
Background Resources
- Nancy G. Leveson, Safeware: System Safety and Computers, Addison-Wesley 1995
- J.-R. Abrial, The B-Book, Cambridge University Press, 1996
- K. Lano, The B Language and Method., Springer 1996
- J.B. Wordsworth, Software Engineering with B., Addison-Wesley 1996
Notes
On-line resources also exist
Web sites such as http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/archive/safety.html, and the standard ECS computers and software installations support the coursework assignment.
Taught to
COMP6038
MSc in Software Engineering (Compulsory)Students who are not registered on an ECS approved programme may take this module subject to meeting its pre-requisites and the availability of resources. To confirm this, please can you contact the module leader (as listed above) in the first instance. They will then refer you on to the appropriate director of studies for formal approval of your selection.