Systems of Systems

Chapter 11

Model-driven Design and Simulation ¹

 

11.1. General points

Since the industrial era, our world has undergone major changes, whether it be on a geostrategic, politic, economic, social or technological level. Today’s world is multipolar. A multitude of agents are interacting with one another. The dynamics of such interactions are more complex than they used to be, both because of a heightened connectivity and dependence between these agents, and the uncertainty about emergence properties relative to those dynamics. The global economy is stimulated by growing activities and exchanges between governmental and international organizations, enterprises and individuals. It is also sustained by multiple new technologies, such as nanotechnologies, biomedicine, genetics, robotics, NTICs, etc. These technologies have deep repercussions on our society.

The notion of networks is of increasing importance: more and more often, individuals, organizations and systems are organized into networks: computer networks, influence networks, old classmates networks, partnerships and alliances, etc. The digitalization of information and the systems’ mobility and modular nature are only facilitating this tendency. It has even become necessary, individuals moving more easily and readily than they used to. This need emphasizes the constraints of interoperability between the components of a system or a system of systems.

Technical and technological progress allow the marketing of more and more integrated ...