Work Package 5

Models validation and tool support

We expect to provide a development environment which hosts the implementation of CAS-SCEL as well as a wide range of applications and libraries for the analysis and verification of CAS-SCEL models. Through the software tools, we will present models of our case studies on smart cities, proposing detailed what-if scenarios which help determine, at design-time, suitable operating conditions for the development of robust, large-scale collective adaptive systems. The tool suite will also realise the design methodology for collective adaptive systems envisaged in WP4.

  1. The first task of this work package is a case study on Smart public transportation. Many European cities have recently invested in improvements to their public transportation infrastructure, particularly with regard to information dissemination.  The first phase of this case study involves understanding such systems and gaining familiarity with the data which is collected from the system, allowing us to do retrospective analysis of the service which has been provided.  In the second phase of our case study we move from learning about the characteristics of the problem and the extent and nature of the available data to building formal models.
  2. The second task of this work package is a case study on Smart grids.  In many countries, energy consumption and production is very decentralised, even with households acting effectively as prosumers, both producing and consuming energy (by means of micro-installations) at the same time. It is becoming increasingly more important to make use of these resources in an optimal manner because of their high degree of volatility. In this first phase of this case study we will increase our understanding of the problem of energy provision, the role of “prosumers”, and the influence of smart meters. We will investigate sources of data on smart grids in order to ensure that our models are in-line with physical and practical reality. In a second phase we move to building formal models of the problem which can be expressed in the modelling language created in the project and analysed using the software tools which have been developed.
  3. The final task of this work package is Tools integration where the objective is to integrate software contributions by the different project partners, allowing for a high degree of independence between them whilst ensuring interoperability. This will be realised by adopting a loosely coupled architecture based on the notion of a plug-in system, whereby researchers will be implementing software modules (plug-ins) which can interact with each other by means of a minimal interface. On top of the plug-in architecture, we will provide a lightweight protocol which reflects the design workflow and analysis pathway developed in WP4. For instance, the protocol will exhibit distinct extensions for the different phases of the modelling process, such as design, analysis, and results visualisation. This will allow for an open environment where several contributions belonging to the same modelling phase may coexist, and where the end-user is able to choose between them according to the modelling situation.