The Distributed Software Engineering Section (DSE) research covers a broad range of topics in distributed systems and software engineering
Distributed systems research includes experimentation with middleware, mobile ad hoc and sensor networks, and cloud computing. We have developed an open source framework for managing large-scale experimentation processes, techniques for probabilistic fault localisation and identification, and software tools for cloud services performance enhancement being evaluated for use by Microsoft. We are investigating applications such as smart cities, flood plain monitoring and management of water networks.
Systems management and security research focuses on policy management concepts. We have developed a suite of tools for adaptive behaviour management, policy analysis and refinement, trust management, information dissemination and break-glass overriding of policies (ponder2.net). Potential applications include body sensor networks, healthcare, autonomous vehicles, firewalls, and crisis management.
Requirements and software engineering research focuses on automated techniques and tools for requirements specification elaboration and synthesis of adaptive software systems. Significant achievements include pioneering the synergistic use of inductive logic programming and abduction with model checking techniques to support synthesis of scenarios and goals into operational requirements, and automated adaptive control synthesis techniques.
Research Groups
- Adaptive Embedded Systems Engineering (ÆSE)
- Experimental Software Systems
- Large-Scale Distributed Systems (LSDS)
- Policy-Based Autonomous Systems
- Security
- Structured and Probabilistic Intelligent Knowledge Engineering (SPIKE)
- Resilient Information Systems Security (RISS)
