Staff Profile

Ken is a Lecturer in the School of Computing at Newcastle University. His main interests lie in developing methods and tools for collaborative, model-based design and engineering of cyber-physical systems (CPSs). In particular, he is interested in helping engineers from multiple disciplines collaborate effectively through co-modelling and co-simulation to achieve better performing, more resilient designs across a range of domains. Recent new collaborations include investigating Digital Twins for Resilient Geoinfrastructure with the School of Engineering, and Studying Drones in Mountain Rescue with Virtual Field Trials with domain experts from Newcastle University Business School and registered charity The Centre for Search Research. 

Ken is associated with the AMBER group (Advanced Model-based Engineering) the CPLab (Cyber-Physical Systems lab) and has been Convener of the Language Board of the VDM (Vienna Development Method) formal method since 2014. He is Degree Programme Director (DPD) for the Smart Systems Engineering MSc. programme. Ken is currently involved in the HUBCAP project, an Innovation Action funded by the European Commission's H2020 programme, which brings model-based design to European SMEs through an online platform and cascading funding. 

Ken has previously participated in a variety of successful projects, particularly the H2020 project INTO-CPS and CPSE Labs between 205 and 2017, and FP7 projects DESTECS and COMPASS between 2010 and 2014. Ken received his BSc (Hons) in Computer Science (Software Engineering) from Newcastle University in 2005 and studied for his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Cliff Jones. His thesis, titled "Enhancing the Usability of Rely-Guarantee Conditions for Atomicity Refinement", was published in December 2009. 

Area of expertise: Model-based engineering and cyber-physical systems

Google Scholar: Click here.

My research interests are in the areas of cyber-phsyical systems (CPSs), these are systems of interacting computing and physical elements, with requirements for distributed control, human interaction and error detection and recovery. More broadly I research model based design, collaborative modelling and co-simulation, design space exploration (DSE) and trade-space analysis, and fault tolerance. I also maintain an interest in formal methods, including the VDM formalism.

Current Projects

• HUBCAP (CoI, 2020-2022, H2020 #872698)

Former Projects

• DECIDE (CoI, 2019-2020, Rail Safety and Systems Board)
• Analysis System Interdependencies Using a Digital Twin (CoI, 2018-2019, Centre for Digital Built Britain)
• INTO-CPS (PDRA, 2015-2017, H2020 #644047)
• CPSE Labs (PDRA, 2015-2017, H2020 #644400)
• COMPASS (PDRA, 2012-14, FP7 #287829)
• DESTECS (PDRA, 2010-12, FP7 #248134)

Ken engages in research-informed teaching on a variety of topics, particulary collaborative modelling, Cyber-Physical Systems and smart systems. He supervises PhD students as well as dissertation students at postgraduate and undergraduate level. He is Degree Programme Director (DPD) for the Smart Systems Engineering MSc. programme. 

PhD Supervision:

• DPD for Smart Systems Engineering MSc.
• CSC8701 Model-Based Systems Engineering
• CSC8704 Advanced Topics in Smart Systems
• CSC8799 Project and Dissertation in Smart Systems
  

• CSC2034 Introducing Contemporary Topics in Computing
  
• CSC3331 Real-Time and Cyber-Physical Systems 

Project supervision:

• Articles

  • Golightly D, Pierce K, Palacin R, Gamble C. A feasibility assessment of multi-modelling approaches for rail decarbonisation systems simulation. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 2022, 236(6), 715-732.
  • Neghina M, Zamfirescu C-B, Pierce K. Early-stage analysis of cyber-physical production systems through collaborative modelling. Software and Systems Modeling 2020, 19, 581-600.
  • Golightly D, Gamble C, Palacin R, Pierce K. Applying ergonomics within the multi-modelling paradigm with an example from multiple UAV control. Ergonomics 2020, 63(8), 1027-1043.
  • Whyte J, Fitzgerald J, Mayfield M, Coca D, Pierce K, Shah N. Projects as Interventions in Infrastructure Systems‐of‐Systems. INCOSE International Symposium 2019, 29(1), 542-542.
  • Golightly D, Gamble C, Palacin R, Pierce K. Multi-modelling for decarbonisation in urban rail systems. Urban Rail Transit 2019, 5, 254-266.
  • Neghina M, Zamfirescu C-B, Larsen PG, Lausdahl K, Pierce K. A Discrete Event-first Approach to Collaborative Modelling of Cyber-Physical Systems. Studies in Informatics and Control 2018, 27(4), 33-42.
  • Bhattacharyya A, Mokhov A, Pierce K. An empirical comparison of formalisms for modelling and analysis of dynamic reconfiguration of dependable systems. Formal Aspects of Computing 2017, 29(2), 251-307.
  • Fitzgerald JS, Larsen PG, Pierce KG, Verhoef MHG. A formal approach to collaborative modelling and co-simulation for embedded systems. Mathematical Structures in Computer Science 2013, 23(4), 726-750.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. Elucidating concurrent algorithms via layers of abstraction and reification. Formal Aspects of Computing 2011, 23(3), 289-306.

• Book Chapters

  • Fitzgerald J, Larsen PG, Pierce K, Freitas L, Battle N. Verification Technology for VDM: Craft and Automation. In: Cavalcanti, A; Baxter, J, ed. The Practice of Formal Methods: Essays in Honour of Cliff Jones, Part 1. Cham: Springer, 2024, pp.109-130.
  • Fitzgerald J, Gamble C, Mansfield M, Ouy J, Palacin R, Pierce K, Larsen PG. Collaborative modelling and co-simulation for transportation cyber-physical systems. In: Transportation Cyber-Physical Systems. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2018, pp.51-79.
  • Fitzgerald J, Pierce K, Larsen PG. Collaborative Development of Dependable Cyber-Physical Systems by Co-Modeling and Co-Simulation. In: Bagnato, A; Indrusiak, LS; Quadri, IR; Rossi, M, ed. Handbook of Research on Embedded Systems Design. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global, 2014, pp.1-28.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Pierce K, Bhattacharyya A, Golightly D, Pinto da Silva P, Merricks S, Palacin R, Guo Z. Using Co-Simulation and Time Signal at Red (TSAR) to Determine Impact of Driver Behavior on Rail Network Performance. In: Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference (ANNSIM’24). 2024, Washington, DC, USA: Society for Modeling & Simulation International (SCS).
  • Pierce KG, Zaeemdar S. The Inclusivity Game Jam: Exploring Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through Two Creative Forms. In: ICGJ '24: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons and Game Creation Events. 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark: ACM.
  • Hotzel Escardo T, Pierce K, Golightly D, Palacin R. Modelling Train Driver Behaviour in Railway Co-simulations. In: Software Engineering and Formal Methods: SEFM 2020 Collocated Workshops. 2020, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Springer.
  • Larsen PG, Macedo HD, Gomes CG, Esterle L, Thule C, Fitzgerald J, Pierce K. Collaborative Modelling and Co-simulation in Engineering and Computing Curricula. In: Frontiers in Software Engineering Education. FISEE 2019. 2020, Château de Villebrumier, France: Springer.
  • Pierce K, Gamble C, Golightly D, Palacin R. Exploring Human Behaviour in Cyber-Physical Systems with Multi-modelling and Co-simulation. In: FM 2019: Formal Methods. FM 2019 International Workshops. 2019, Porto, Portugal: Springer.
  • Larsen PG, Fitzgerald J, Woodcock J, Gamble C, Payne R, Pierce K. Features of Integrated Model-Based Co-modelling and Co-simulation Technology. In: Software Engineering and Formal Methods. SEFM 2017. 2018, Trento, Italy: Springer, Cham.
  • Mansfield M, Morisset C, Gamble C, Mace JC, Pierce K, Fitzgerald J. Design Space Exploration for Secure Building Control. In: 16th Overture Workshop. 2018, Oxford University, UK.
  • Mace JC, Morisset C, Pierce K, Gamble C, Maple C, Fitzgerald J. A multi-modelling based approach to assessing the security of smart buildings. In: Living in the Internet of Things: Cybersecurity of the IoT. 2018, London, UK: Institution of Engineering and Technology.
  • Fitzgerald JS, Gamble C, Larsen PG, Pierce K, Woodcock JCP. Cyber-Physical Systems Design: FormalFoundations, Methods and Integrated Tool Chains. In: 2015 IEEE/ACM 37TH IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering. 2015, Florence, Italy: IEEE.
  • Pierce K, Ingram C, Bos B, Ribeiro A. Experience in Managing Requirements Between Distributed Parties in a Research Project Context. In: IEEE 8th International Conference on Global Software Engineering (ICGSE). 2013, Bari, Italy: IEEE.
  • Pierce KG, Fitzgerald JS, Gamble C. Modelling Faults and Fault Tolerance Mechanisms in a Paper Pinch Co- model. In: ERCIM/EWICS/Cyber-physical Systems Workshop at SafeComp. 2011, Naples, Italy.
  • Fitzgerald J, Larsen P, Pierce K, Verhoef M, Wolff S. Collaborative modelling and co-simulation in the development of dependable embedded systems. In: Integrated Formal Methods: 8th International Conference (IFM 2010). 2010, Nancy, France: Springer.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. Splitting Atoms with Rely/Guarantee Conditions Coupled with Data Reification. In: Abstract State Machines, B and Z: First International Conference (ABZ 2008). 2008, London, UK: Springer-Verlag.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. What can the π-calculus tell us about the mondex purse system?. In: Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Engineering of Complex Computer Systems, ICECCS. 2007, Auckland: IEEE.

• Reports

  • Gamble C, Couto LD. Proceedings of the 17th Overture Workshop. Newcastle University, 2019. School of Computing Technical Report Series 1530.
  • Pierce K, Verhoef M. The 16th Overture Workshop. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2018. School of Computing Technical Report Series 1524.
  • Bhattacharyya A, Mokhov A, Pierce K. A Comparison of Formalisms for Modelling and Analysis of Dynamic Reconfiguration of Dependable Systems. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2015. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1462.
  • Plat N, Ballegaard Nielsen C, Riddle S. Proceedings of the 10th Overture Workshop. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2012. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1345.
  • Fitzgerald J, Pierce K, Gamble C. A Rigorous Approach to the Design of Resilient Cyber-physical Systems through Co-Simulation. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2012. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1331.
  • Andrews Z, Bryans J, Fitzgerald J, Hughes J, Payne R, Pierce K, Riddle S. Modelling and Refinement of the MONDEX Electronic Purse in VDM. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2011. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1308.
  • Fitzgerald JS, Larsen PG, Pierce KG, Verhoef MHG. A Formal Approach to Collaborative Modelling and Co-simulation for Embedded Systems. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2011. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1264.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. What Can the pi-calculus Tell Us About the Mondex Purse System?. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2010. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1185.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. Splitting Atoms with Rely/Guarantee Conditions Coupled with Data Reification. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2010. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1186.
  • Pierce K, Plat N, Wolff S. Proceedings of the 8th Overture Workshop. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, 2010. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1224.
  • Fitzgerald J, Gorm Larsen P, Pierce KG, Verhoef M, Wolff S. Collaborative Modelling and Co-simulation in the Development of Dependable Embedded Systems. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2010. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1213.
  • Jones CB, Pierce KG. Elucidating Concurrent Algorithms via Layers of Abstraction and Reification. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2009. School of Computing Science Technical Report Series 1166.
  • Pierce KG. [PhD Thesis] Enhancing the Usability of Rely-Guarantee Conditions for Atomicity Refinement. Newcastle upon Tyne: School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2009.