Conceptual Modeling for Architectural Reasoning in the Energy Domain
Doctoral thesis
Published version
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https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3017436Utgivelsesdato
2022Metadata
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This thesis explores systems architecting in the concept stage in the energy domain.
Specifically, the thesis explores how conceptual modeling can be applied in this context
to support architectural reasoning. The main focus is on supporting the systems
architecting process in the industrial setting when evolving mature systems designs.
In the last decade, the energy industry has been through significant changes, demanding
drastic cost reductions and increasing the need for collaboration across the actors in the
industry. The changes have led to increasing complexity, both in terms of the technical
system and regarding business and organization. Coping with the increasing complexity
requires the engineers to improve their systems awareness and balance conflicting
needs in the early phase of system development.
Within other industrial domains, the literature proposes using conceptual modeling in
the early phase of system development to support concept exploration and knowledge
sharing. Several case studies from the energy domain have shown the potential of
applying conceptual modeling to support the challenges the energy industry is facing.
Still, there is low adoption of such approaches in the industry. The approaches must be
adapted to the specific needs of the energy industry to increase the industry's adaption.
The thesis presents the results from four-year longitudinal research in a system supplier
company in the energy domain. The research presented in the thesis is conducted under
an Industrial Ph.D. scheme. The candidate has been employed in the company of
research before and during the research.
The thesis is article-based and consists of five appended articles. Through several studies
in the company of research, we have explored how conceptual models can support
architectural reasoning in the concept stage. The appended articles present the findings
from the studies in the company of research.
Article 1 and Article 2 present results from the exploration of the current practice in the
early phase of system development in the company of research. The studies revealed a need for improving the engineer's awareness of the context of the system. Further, the
studies identified an opportunity to use conceptual modeling to improve systems
awareness. Article 3 presents an in-depth study from the company of research to
understand the challenges and needs for improving systems awareness. The article also
presents four aspects to improve practitioners' likelihood of adopting a new approach.
Article 4 presents a case study applying conceptual models to support reasoning in the
early-phase concept evaluation. Article 5 synthesizes the insights from this case study in
Article 4 and the insights gained throughout the research and proposes an approach for
using conceptual modeling to support system-level decision-making. Finally, Article 5
evaluates the approach in an industrial setting and evaluates how it supports the
challenges and needs identified in Article 3.
This thesis contributes to the Systems Engineering Body of knowledge by providing
insight into the challenges in current systems engineering practice in the energy domain
and the industry needs in the concept phase. Further, the thesis contributes with insight
into the application of conceptual modeling in an industrial setting. Finally, the research
contributes with a practical approach, guiding practitioners in applying conceptual
models in their daily work.
Key words: Systems Engineering, Systems Architecting, architectural reasoning,
conceptual modeling, systems awareness, system-level decision-making, energy domain
Består av
Article 1: Engen S, Falk K. (2018). Application of a System Engineering Framework to the Subsea Front-End Engineering study. INCOSE International Symposium 2018. 28(1), 79-95. doi:10.1002/j.2334-5837.2018.00469.xArticle 2: Engen S, Falk K, Muller G. (2019) Architectural reasoning in the conceptual phase - a case study in the oil and gas industry. 14th Annual Conference of System of Systems Engineering (SoSE), 87-92. doi:10.1109/SYSOSE.2019.8753863
Article 3: Engen S, Falk K, Muller G. (2021) The Need for Systems Awareness to Support Early- Phase Decision-Making - A Study from the Norwegian Energy Industry. Systems. 2021, 9(3). doi:10.3390/systems9030047
Article 4: Engen S, Falk K, Muller G. (2021) Conceptual Models to Support Reasoning in Early Phase Concept Evaluation - a Subsea Case Study. 16th International Conference of System of Systems Engineering (SoSE), 95-101. doi:10.1109/SOSE52739.2021.9497467
Article 5: Engen S, Muller G, Falk K. Conceptual Modeling to support System-Level Decision- Making - A Longitudinal Case Study from the Norwegian Energy Industry, Submitted (Omitted from online publikaton)