2014 IEEE 17th International Conference on

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC)

October 8-11, 2014. Qingdao, China

The Proposal for the Application of Reverse

Systems Engineering to Light Rail Transit Project
Based on the Outputs of ISO/IEC 15288 Technical
Processes
SukYoon Han† JooUk Kim Jung Ghun Ohn
Korea Railroad Research Institute Korea Railroad Research Institute Seoul National University of
Uiwang, Korea Uiwang, Korea Science and Technology
syhan@krri.re.kr jookim@krri.re.kr Seoul, Korea
jgohn@krri.re.kr

Abstract— LRT project is mostly carried out for a new route o
n the basis of the previous constriction experiences and thus it wou
ld be more effective if the use of the existing data is maximized usin
g reverse systems engineering. In this study, systems engineering p
rocess activities and outputs were evaluated, based on which, reve
rse systems engineering and re-systems engineering process to app
ly them to the LRT project is proposed.
Keywords— Light Rail Transit(LRT), reverse systems
engineering, re systems engineering, technical process
cycle to transform the needs of stakeholder to the system. [2]
To effectively implement systems engineering in LRT
project, defining the systems engineering process and
outputs is a must. From the viewpoint of ISO/IEC 15288, life
cycle of LRT project is categorized into the concept,
development, production & construction, operation,
maintenance and disposal phase. Fig. 1 shows how to link
them to systems engineering process. [3]

I. INTRODUCTION
LRT system is a large complex system in which rolling
stock, signaling, communication, power supply, mechanical
system and track are organically interlinked and effective
project implementation is more important because its service
life continues for decades once it’s built. As systems
engineering is an interdisciplinary approach and means to
enable the realization of successful systems 〔1〕, it is also
quite an efficient methodology for mega infrastructure
project like LRT. LRT project is mostly carried out for a new
route on the basis of the previous constriction experiences
and thus it would be more effective if the use of the existing
data is maximized using reverse systems engineering rather
than forward systems engineering, and based on which re- Fig. 1. Technical process in view of life cycle of LRT project[4]
systems engineering is carried out in systematic way. In this
study, systems engineering process activities and outputs B. LRT systems engineering process activities and ouputs
were evaluated, based on which, reverse systems engineering
and re-systems engineering process to apply them to the LRT Detailed process of systems engineering technical
project is proposed. process comprise the activities and tasks, and the results of
activities are expressed as outcomes. According to the
handbook of International Council on Systems Engineering
II. LRT PROJECT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (INCOSE), such process results are classified and defined in
TECHNICAL PROCESS the form of output. Fig. 2 shows relationship between the
result of technical processes and their outputs. The outputs of
A. Systems engineering technical process and life cycle of each process serve the inputs of other processes for
LRT project implementation. Table 1 summarizes the result of process
Technical process of ISO/IEC15288, composed of 11 activity which will serve the basis in implementing LRT
detailed processes, is a series of technical activity during life project.

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 III. APPLICATION OF REVERSE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
PROCESS

A. Definition of reverse systems engineering and re-systems

engineering
1) Reverse systems engineering
It’s the engineering technique to extract the development-
related output or information reversely through previously
developed system or outputs. From the viewpoint of process,
reverse systems engineering is the opposite to forward
systems engineering which has sequential process from the
conceptual design.
2) Re-systems engineering
A process analyzing from the viewpoint of the
improvement system function, performance and maintenance
and in general, it’s implemented in forward engineering way
based on output emerged from reverse engineering.

B. Application of reverse systems engineering and re-

systems engineering process
Fig. 3 illustrate reverse systems engineering and re-
systems engineering from the viewpoint of time flow after
adjusting 11 detail processes of ISO/IEC15288 technical
Fig. 2. INTERCONNECTIONS AMONG THE OUTPUTS OF TECHNICAL process.
PROCESSES[3]

TABLE I. PART OF OUTPUTS LIST OF TECHNICAL PROCESS ON LRT

PROJECT[5]

Technical
Outputs list
Process
▪ Concept Documents
- Concept of Production
- Concept of Operations
- Concept of Support
Stakeholder - Concept of Disposal
Requirements ▪ Stakeholder Requirements
Definition ▪ MOE Needs
▪ MOE Data
▪ Validation Criteria
▪ Initial RVTM
▪ Stakeholder Requirements Traceability
▪ System Requirements
- Performance Requirements
- Functional Requirements
- Non‐Functional Requirements
- Architectural Constraints
▪ MOP Needs
Requirements ▪ MOP Data
Analysis ▪ System Functions
▪ System Functional Interfaces
▪ Specification Tree
Fig. 3. Reverse systems engineering and re systems engineering in LRT
▪ Verification Criteria
project
▪ System Specification
▪ Updated RVTM
▪ System Requirements Traceability

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 Fig. 4. Tailored application of Technical process
As shown in the figure Fig.3 and Fig.4, technical process
is implemented in inverse order from maintenance process of
LRT system to stakeholder requirements definition process
and supplementary activities follows after reviewing the
process outputs. At the same time, it’s necessary to identify
the subsystems using the same process and integrate the
results into the requirement analysis process and architecture
design process in sequence so as to define the requirements
and the architecture of the whole system.
The process of comparing the requirements of
stakeholder, comparing the requirements with adjusted and
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readjusted process, comparing adjusted and readjusted
process with architecture, and revision and redesign process
is the redesign process through the system defined through
re-systems engineering, subsystem, comparing component’s
requirements and architecture design data with new system
requirements and architecture design data and revision.
Redesigned requirements and architecture are integrated with
the process defining the requirements of stakeholder for new
system, requirement analysis process, the requirements of
architecture design process, requirements of architecture
design process and architecture design data so as to define
the subsystem, component-level requirements and
Define
architecture design data. ․maintenance ․maintenance
the constraints
enabling system enabling system
about system Define
requirements requirements
C. Reverse systems engineering activities and outputs of requirements maintenance
according to ․maintenance constraints ․maintenance
maintenance process constraints on constraints on
maintenance
Due to space limitations, as an sample case,, we describe strategy design design
maintenance process of reverse systems engineering process.
Maintenance process activities and tasks from the
viewpoint of forward engineering as suggested in ISO/IEC
15288 are illustrated in Fig. 5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE STUDY
In case of LRT project which is able to use the part of
previous LRT project deliverable, reverse systems
engineering needs to be carried out to thoroughly analyze the
existing data which is then followed by re-systems
engineering so as to prevent potential problems in advance as
well as implement the project in more effective manner.
This study proposes the method to implement reverse
systems engineering and re-systems engineering using
technical process in ISO/IEC 15288 to carry out LRT
project. Should the methodology proposed in this study be
implemented using SE computerized tools and applied to the
project and the output be stored in data repository, reusability
of the process and outputs as well as system quality would be
enhanced and LRT project would surely be implemented in
more effective way and manner.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work is supported by research fund of plant
engineering in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of
Korea.

REFERENCES
[1] INCOSE, "INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Ver.3.2",
INCOSE, 2010, pp. 7~8
[2] ISO/IEC 15288, Information Technology-Systems and software
engineering-Systems life cycle process, 2008
[3] Seok Youn Han et.al(2014), A study on the Systems
Performance Integration Management Process in view of
Technical Process of ISO/IEC 15288, Proceeding of spring
conference of the Korean Society for Railway, 2014.5.
[4] Seok Youn Han et.al(2010), Directions for the Application of
Systems Engineering to Light Rail Transit Project, Proceeding
Fig. 5. Activities and tasks in maintenance process of APCOSE 2010, 2010.10.
[5] Seok Youn Han et.al(2013), A study on the Systems
Maintenance process is aimed at maintaining the Engineering Process for effectively carrying out LRT project,
Trans. Korean Soc. Mech. Eng. C, Vol. 1, No.1, pp 139~145,
capability of the service system and is designed to monitor 2013
the system ability, record for problem analysis, take
corrective activity, adjustment activity, adaptation activity
and preventive activity and check the restored capability. BIOGRAPHY
Suk Yoon Han, Chief researcher and ex-vice president of
TABLE II. PLAN MAINTENANCE (ACTIVITIES 1) Korea Railroad Research Institute, Vice president of Korean
Forward SE Reverse SE
Council on Systems Engineering(KCOSE) and The Korean
Society of Systems Engineering(KOSSE). Ph D. on
tasks outputs tasks outputs Industrial Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University,
Korea.
․maintenance ․maintenance
Prepare Define
maintenance
strategy
maintenance
strategy Joo Uk Kim, Senior Researcher, Metropolitan Trans
strategy ․maintenance strategy ․maintenance portation Research Center of Korea Railroad Research
Procedure Procedure Institute, Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering

220
at Korea University Master of Engineering in Systems Institute,
Engineering at Ajou University The doctor’s degree of Seoul National University of Science
and Technology
Jung Ghun Ohn, Senior Researcher, Metropolitan Trans
portation Research Center of Korea Railroad Research

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