Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Integrating Blockchain Technology Into The Software Development Life Cycle To Satisfy The Software Bill Of Materials Requirement For Government Software Systems, Walter T. Scott Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the integration of Blockchain Technology (BT) into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to satisfy the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) requirement for government software systems. This study begins by synthesizing a standard SDLC definition from various government and industry references, which may provide the foundation for future efforts to standardize software development practices across the government software development community. This study proceeds to define working definitions for the software supply chain (SSC) and software supply chain management (SCM) before introducing and detailing the SBOM requirement as well as providing an overview of prior research regarding SBOMs …

Central Tracking And Billing System For Insurance Bills, Kehinde Alabi

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

In this article, we introduce a new centralized billing platform designed for insurance bills including auto insurance, health insurance, home insurance, life insurance, etc. This system consolidates all bills for individual users eliminating the need for them to manage and pay bills separately. Users stand to benefit from significant time and effort savings each month, reducing the likelihood of missed payments and associated late fees. Insurance billing organizations and banks can also capitalize on timely payments and reduced physical mailings, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. The proposed system offers users the ability to track and review their historical …

Modeling Advancement In Spacefaring Through Deep Learning, Peng-Hung Tsai

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting advancement in space exploration technology allows space agencies and companies to strategically allocate resources, prioritize missions, and explore collaborations on complex projects. This foresight acts as a roadmap for future exploration, making the best use of valuable resources. The present study employs spacecraft lifetimes as an exemplar of technological progress and proposes a novel forecasting model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. Existing research often suggests an increasing exponential relationship between technology performance and time (the generalized Moore's Law). However, applying this model directly to spacecraft lifetimes has a limitation. Spacecraft lifespans are unknown at launch, and recent …

Smart Grid Cybersecurity In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Chip Corbett, Charles M. Weber, Timothy R. Anderson

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The security of the power grid is essential for the proper function of a democratic society, yet it is constantly under threat. The internet of things (loT) will make a bad situation much worse. Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) have been identified as serious threats to our democratic institutions, and that same acronym applies to mobile device management (MDM), and these devices have become ubiquitous. People are notoriously bad at doing basic cybersecurity. With trillions of devices and remote access everywhere, what could possibly go wrong? Now add in the engaging opportunity of distributed energy resources (DERs) and life gets …

Computational Cognitive Modeling Of Pilot Performance In Pre-Flight And Take-Off Procedures, Rongbing Xu, Shi Cao, Suzanne K. Kearns, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo, Elizabeth Irving

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

While the current practice of pilot training relies on flight instructors’ subjective assessment, computational cognitive modeling may be used to support future objective assessment and diagnosis of pilot performance. We built two models in a cognitive architecture to simulate pilot flight performance during pre-flight and take-off tasks. Modeling results were compared with human results collected from the same tasks using X-Plane 11 flight simulator. The models were able to capture human pilot performance and workload results from both tasks with good levels of fitness (percentage errors ranging from 0.8% to 13.2%). This work demonstrated the capability and advantage of this …

Enterprise Systems: Installing And Configuring Erpnext On Macos, Yazan Abbasi

Senior Honors Theses

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrate business processes across organizations onto unified digital platforms through data and workflow consolidation. However, high licensing costs of proprietary ERP solutions like SAP and Oracle limit adoption for small and medium enterprises. This led to the emergence of open-source ERP alternatives like ERPNext which provide sophisticated capabilities at much lower total cost of ownership. However, ERPNext faces documentation gaps that hamper onboarding, customization, and widespread adoption. Accelerating ERPNext implementation by developing a comprehensive installation and configuration guide tailored for developers using Mac environments will be examined furthermore.

The background on ERP systems explores critical …

Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Methods And Evaluation, Gayane Grigoryan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A wide array of techniques within explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) have been developed to measure the importance of features in machine learning models. A notable portion of these methods draws upon principles of cooperative game theory (CGT), with the Shapley value emerging as a widely used solution concept. Despite the rising prominence of the Shapley value, other promising solutions from cooperative game theory—such as the Nucleolus, Banzhaf power index, Shapley-Shubik power index, and solutions to conflicting claims problems—have been comparatively overlooked, even though they hold significant potential. In this dissertation, multiple XAI methods based on these other CGT solutions are …

Development Of A Conceptual Framework For Complex System Governance (Csg) Performance Measurement, James Hartwell Rutherford

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Within the Complex System Governance (CSG) paradigm, system performance is regulated by nine metasystem governance functions, which provide control, communication, coordination, and integration. However, CSG has lacked a fully developed model or language to richly articulate system performance at a conceptual level. The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based conceptual framework to measure the performance of CSG metasystem governance using an inductive research design.

Although ‘good performance’ may seem like an obvious idea, the current literature on performance measurement across many disciplines and contexts contains vastly inconsistent uses of the word ‘performance.’ Both researchers and practitioners …

Harnessing Social Media For Disaster Response: Intelligent Identification Of Reliable Rescue Requests During Hurricanes, Wael Khallouli

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Hurricanes pose a significant threat to both human lives and infrastructure. Decision-makers face substantial challenges during such events, as they must act quickly to address victims’ needs. Social media platforms provide a valuable source for quick and real-time information. Recent hurricane events have shown that people turn to social media to call for help when official communication channels, such as 911, are overwhelmed. However, extracting actionable information from the massive number of messages posted on social media is challenging. Furthermore, verifying social media messages posted by the public is a critical concern for disaster response practitioners, making them hesitant to …

Exporting Sysml Designs To Simulink, Drew Q. Broadbent

Theses and Dissertations

Various software systems have been developed to aid a systems engineer in evaluating system requirements, such as Dassault’s Magic System of Systems Architect (MSOSA) and MathWorks’ Simulink. Both software packages have different strengths; therefore, it is beneficial to export models from one software package to another. MSOSA provides a built-in tool that facilitates this transfer, built upon the Extension for Physical Interaction and Signal Flow Simulation (SysPhS) standard. However, the process is often unreliable and error prone and online documentation is largely lacking. This research used extensive trial and error to fill in the documentation gaps and create a method …

Communication Challenges In Underwater Wireless Networks: Mac Protocols And Software Solutions, Dmitrii Dugaev

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Underwater wireless networks (UWNs) represent a diverse and intriguing research domain, encompassing a wide array of scientific and industrial applications. This dissertation delves into the communication challenges at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer within UWNs, stemming from the distinctive signal propagation conditions and the harshness of the deployment environment. The manuscript provides comprehensive coverage of key aspects of UWNs, including potential applications, communication protocols, methodologies employed in such networks, and existing software solutions that facilitate simulation, emulation, and real testbed scenarios for underwater research endeavors. Furthermore, this research introduces innovative software and communication solutions designed to facilitate the seamless …

Optimal Planning And Design Of Operations And Maintenance Systems For Offshore Wind Farms, Md Imran Hasan Tusar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Feasible and sustainable sources of power are a critical issue nowadays. Offshore wind farms (OWF) can be a solution to power generation problems, but it is relatively more expensive— their installation cost is more than twice of their comparable size onshore counterparts. The cost that matters most is the operations and maintenance (O&M) cost. Expensive and sophisticated transfer vehicles and highly skilled technicians are needed to conduct O&M activities, resulting in a remarkably higher O&M cost for an offshore wind farm project. Offshore wind turbines can capture more wind than onshore turbines because of their larger structure and location in …

Design Of Small-Scale Milk Processing Facility, Luke Bond, Robert Stenzel, Ry Steffen, John Van Nieuwenhuyse, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Terry Howell Jr., Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Forrest Kievit

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This project was intended to investigate the feasibility of a proposed modular dairy processing facility collocated with a small dairy on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Innovation Campus. Priority was placed upon cost savings for equipment to be used in processing. Process flow diagrams, floor plans, production schedules, risk assessments, and plans for wastewater treatment were all developed to address the needs of the plant should it be built. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the timeline for breaking even financially, resulting in the potential for a payback period of 4.5 years. The 4.5-year payback period was based on …

Great South Metals: Slitter Head Building Process, Nabhan Karim, Evan Swierski, Raven Morin, Patrick Kelsey, Michael Williams

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Great South Metals (GSM) operates two steel slitter machines, which take large coils of flat rolled steel and cut them into smaller strips for use in customers’ applications. Setting up the working components of each machine, called the slitter head, is a precise and arduous task. This system relies on several manually performed calculations and acute attention to detail; and thus, is prone to human error. The management at GSM commissioned our team to simplify the slitter head assembly process by creating an automated computer program and make additional recommendations to improve their operations.

The program we created is a …

Examining The Impact Of Customer Rfp Characteristics On Award Compliance, Laasya Ravipati

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the context of intermodal transportation, understanding the dynamics of award compliance holds significant importance for operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. Award compliance refers to the percentage of awarded freight volume that is realized, indicating the extent to which contractual agreements are fulfilled. This analysis delves into the intricate relationship between customer characteristics and award compliance, aiming to provide valuable insights into the variability and predictability of compliance rates. By analyzing Request for Pricing (RFP) data and primary awarded freight volumes, the study seeks to address the need for more accurate volume estimations, crucial for sales planning, revenue projections, and …

Model-Based Comparison Of Biological Organism And Electro-Mechanical System Resiliency Strategies, Nicholas Ratycz

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bio-inspired design has been used by many engineers to solve difficult problems or to make manufacturing processes more efficient. Biomimetics is the study of implementing the structure or function of biological substances, materials, mechanisms, and processes onto artificial ones that mimic the original. The goal of the BIASD tool is to provide bio-inspiration for engineers by studying the fault-adaptive strategies that biological systems use, rather than just their structure or function. In this thesis, the fault adaptive strategies of both a biological example and that of a real cubesat are compared using three types of model-based system diagrams to show …

Investigating Potential Improvements To Mbse Software To Support Dodaf, Jennifer Marie Kimpson

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of models created through model-based systems engineering methods with DoDAF is not a new concept. By creating DoDAF-aligned models, DoD program managers are following DoD guidelines to hopefully achieve more effective communication with stakeholders and improve efficiency of their programs. With the use of MBSE tools to create these models, DoD program managers are able to take further advantage of the benefits of MBSE methods. However, even with the use of MBSE tools, there continue to be issues throughout DoD programs. The literature has shown that a continuous improvement approach regarding the use of MBSE tools with DoDAF …

Box Packaging Waste Reduction By Largest Area First Fit Algorithm And Minimum Cuboid Estimation Of Irregular Shape Products, Jimmy Kwon, Sungmin Kwon

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Nowadays, packaging waste is a prevalent issue due to the increase in deliveries from online shopping. In this research paper, a new approach to the issue of cardboard box packaging waste is proposed by selecting an optimal box that will contain both regular and irregular products while minimizing wasted volume. The method can be utilized so that packaging workers can select an appropriate, yet sustainable box. For computing a minimal cuboid of irregular objects, the system setup with two cameras is prepared to capture the overhead and sideview images, estimating the box's width, depth, and height in pixels. The proposed …

Understanding The Impact Of Emergent Conflict On Communication And Team Cognition: A Multilevel Study In Engineering Teams, Francisco Cima

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The development of team cognition is crucial for fostering high-performing teams. In cognitive-intensive fields like engineering, effective communication serves as a primary precursor to team knowledge development, enabling group members to effectively retrieve and utilize each other's expertise. Despite the critical role of communication, there is a lack of empirical research examining how conflict situations, which are critical emerging factors inherent to teamwork, interact with communication processes to constrain team knowledge development and utilization. This study, rooted in information processing theory, investigates how emerging conflict shapes multilevel team knowledge structures by interacting with communication processes in engineering project teams. Prior …

Optimization Of Human Interactions In The College Campus Model Via Simio Integration, Benjamin E. Chaback

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

College campuses are a significant part of life in some cities. Many students each year attend university, pursuing additional knowledge from faculty members. Both staff and faculty members rely on these students to have successful jobs and to ensure the university functions. Yet recently, more and more students are attending, leading to overcrowding, lower admission rates, and difficulty getting into good programs. Previous work exists on qualitative student affairs and quantitative retention data, yet little on using simulations to model this problem. This work aimed to (a) Determine the ability to successfully model human interactions/people flow on a college campus, …

Technical Data Package For Sysmlv2 Vignettes, Allen W. Dukes

Student Publications

This Technical Data Package (TDP) thoroughly compiles instructions, concepts, and solutions for eight SysMLv2 vignettes. Each vignette illustrates methods to solve complex system modeling challenges. The initial concept for each vignette can drive the use and evaluation of a custom SysMLv2 modeling tool as shown in [1]. They can support a baseline set of tasks to compare usability with other SysMLv2 modeling software tools.

The document starts with three pairs of vignettes for modeling a hypothetical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operated with a Virtual Reality (VR) headset derived from AFIT WKSP 696. The final pair of vignettes focus on two …

Digital Airworthiness: Development Of A Sysml Based Framework For The Usaf Airworthiness Process, Justin T. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

In 2018 USAF decided to move towards a digital transition for programs and processes. To maximize the impact of initial transition efforts the airworthiness process was identified as a candidate for digital implementation. The airworthiness process is mandated for nearly every system or modification that flies. The airworthiness process identifies specific tasks that must be performed and artifacts that must be produced. This research worked to develop a framework that utilizes SysML to pattern these processes and the required artifacts. A system agnostic, importable library was developed using custom stereotypes and relationships for the purpose of application to digital system …

Artificial Intelligence And Perception: An Empirical Study, Anthony J. Neil

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the impact of adjusting artificial intelligence explainability levels’ outputs on user perception. The overarching study extends within the Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) domain. It examines a spectrum of variables, including performance, cognizance, familiarity, transparency, system bias, and the overall impact of AI, to understand their collective and individual effects that enable effective professional use in an organization. The study aims to illuminate the relationship between the degree of explainability provided by large language models such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing AI and the performance of these models when tasked with XAI adjustments.

A Model-Based And System-Theoretic Approach To Design Advanced Autonomy For Air Dominance Missions: A Loyal Wingman Case Study, Elizabeth S. Pennington

Theses and Dissertations

In contested air environments, safe coordination between decision-makers is paramount. Although the Department of Defense (DoD) prioritizes the development of Artificially Intelligent (AI) wingmen for air combat, a lack of methodology exists to design safe, holistic coordination between human and autonomous wingmen in the same environment. This thesis delivers a framework using Systems Theoretic Process Analysis Extended for Coordination (STPA-Coord) to analyze and design holistic coordination for the Loyal Wingman concept in an Air Dominance mission. STPA-Coord is a safety and hazard analysis process that uses Systems Theory to analyze and design coordination between decisionmakers in a system-of-systems architecture. Using …

Applying Digital Engineering To Defense Acquisitions Through Model-Based Systems Engineering And Discrete Event Simulation, Michael T. Shutlock

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) faces a critical challenge as acquisition professionals strive to grasp the intricacies of the acquisition process. This study proposes an innovative approach to cultivate a more informed and capable acquisition workforce through the integration of digital engineering, specifically Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Discrete Event Simulation (DES) toolsets. Embracing digital transformation with MBSE provides a comprehensive understanding, implementing step-by-step procedures with an interface designed to handle vast amounts of information differently. The merging of MBSE's visual modeling with DES's dynamic simulation offers a holistic view, empowering acquisition professionals with robust planning and risk management …

Estimating Stimulated Raman Scattering Noise In Cwdm O-Band Channels Induced By Two Classical Dwdm Sources In A Quantum Network Fiber Segment, Kurt T. Spranger Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to estimate the stimulated Raman scattering noise induced in CWDM O-band channels by two DWDM classical sources in a terrestrial quantum optical network containing classical and quantum optical signal coexistence in the same fiber segment. A use case is defined and analyzed which extracts a single fiber segment from a notional Bell state measurement found in a notional terrestrial quantum network. A stimulated Raman scattering noise model is employed in a Python simulation to estimate and rank-order the five O-band channels with the least amount of relative induced stimulated Raman scattering noise when given …

Human Performance Modeling Architecture With Hc-130j Mission Application, Stephanie G. Slimp

Theses and Dissertations

The DOD emphasizes digital engineering using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), where MBSE includes SysML-based models of systems. Analysis of system impacts on the human operators and their performance typically occurs through non-MBSE approaches, if at all. One current process, considered the As-Is process for this research, evaluates human performance and workload using IMPRINT, a discrete event simulation (DES) tool. IMPRINT primarily exists as a standalone tool with limited built-in functionality to integrate with an MBSE tool. Using the HC-130J and its crew during a CSAR mission as the system, this research develops a generalizable and updateable human performance modeling architecture …

Utilization Of The System Engineering Design Process To Design And Test A Low-Cost Infectious Aerosol Control Mechanism For Patient Aeromedical Evacuation, Sara Shaghaghi

Theses and Dissertations

The aeromedical evacuation of military patients is a critical component of care for Armed Forces members. The Air Force’s ability to transport patients relies on the technology and systems available. A vital transport responsibility is keeping the patient and medical personnel safe during transport. The historical and legacy systems provide reliable transport mechanisms for the Armed Forces’ patients infected with high-level biological agents, but drawbacks must be considered. This dissertation will discuss the development, conceptual design, and initial evaluation of a new low-cost, litter-mounted patient transport system, Biological-Mitigation in Patient Transport (B-MIPT), using the “V” model of the system engineering …

Performance Of Humans And Agents In A Systems Modeling Language V2 Task: A User-Centered Evaluation Approach, Allen W. Dukes

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense is adopting Digital Engineering practices for its workforce. Simultaneously, the larger Systems Engineering community strives to modernize and define those Digital Engineering practices. These efforts to move from traditionally document-based approaches to pure digital implementations will require enhanced capabilities to manage and digitally track the lifecycle of a program or product. However, this growth must address tool design through an iterative process focusing on usability for many user types. Many tools and technologies exist but often lack an assessment of usability when engineers design tools for other engineers. Including usability when developing solutions for Digital Engineering …

Navigating Model-Based Systems Engineering (Mbse) Transition In The Department Of Defense (Dod): A Capability-Based Assessment (Cba) Use Case, Emily M. Tritschler

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) wants to implement Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) to accelerate and improve the acquisition process of increasingly complex systems. However, the department has not provided the necessary guidance on how to fully implement MBSE into our systems. This provided the following research opportunity: select a common DOD process, create an MBSE methodology, generate a model in accordance with that developed method, record the cost of modeling, and interview the model recipients to characterize their opinions on the investment. The research created a twelve-step methodology for application towards the gap analysis and characterization phase of a Capability-Based …