CSC8201 : The Challenge of Dependable Systems (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Paul Ezhilchelvan
- Lecturer: Dr Stephen Riddle
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce the concepts, principles and ethics of dependable systems, including: the notions of security, safety and reliability, the flaws that undermine dependability, the analyses that expose weaknesses, the techniques that can impart resilience, and the arguments that engender trust in a system.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Components, systems, interfaces, environments, and ethical issues:
trusted vs. trustworthy,
success vs. failure,
safe and secure and reliable.
2. Flaws and weaknesses:
physical deterioration and design inadequacy,
accidental misuse and malicious attack.
3. Concepts and terminology:
faults, errors, failures,
tolerance, resilience, reconfiguration.
4. Hazards and accidents:
safety analysis and integrity levels,
safety culture, management and life-cycle,
risk management and ALARP.
5. Dependability cases:
professional and legal aspects: the safety case and regulation,
arguments, evidence and goal structured notation (GSN),
fault models and hypotheses.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Reliable design analysis project work |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures (20). Delivery mode: PiP |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Safety Analysis project work |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Guidance through structured discussion. Delivery: PiP |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | PiP for guidance on project work |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Support for project work & research. Delivery: PiP |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Project work |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will be used to introduce the learning material and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Students are expected to follow-up lectures within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning.
This is a very practical subject, and therefore students are expected to read outside of taught materials (e.g., published papers) from the perspective of how dependability failures can occur and how they are also avoided through careful design in real-world systems.
Learning materials are supported by worked examples provided as class exercises. Students are expected to spend time on coursework outside scheduled activities.
Students aiming for Distinction-level marks are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading.
Students should set aside sufficient time to read and understand the suggested literature before setting down to do the assessments.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 50 | Safety Report 1b: 3500 word (max) |
| Report | 1 | M | 50 | Reliability Report 1a: 3500 words (max). |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | Past Assessment Papers; Feedback returned to students prior to summative ones. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The project work assessments assess knowledge of theoretical, including ethical, underpinnings and practical skills on selected, realistic and open-ended problems. They also seek to expose the students to the link between theory and practice and the importance of conceptual underpinnings in building dependable systems.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8201's Timetable