Dr Rob Alexander

High Integrity Systems Engineering Research Group,
Department of Computer Science,
University of York.

Office: CSE/033, ground floor Computer Science Building
Telephone: 01904 325474
Email: robert.alexander@cs.york.ac.uk

I'm a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of York, England.

My current research areas are:

• Safety analysis and general software testing of autonomous systems and multi-agent systems
• Dynamic risk assessment in systems of systems (originally as part of the SSEI). Research Associate: Jon Aitken
• Simulation-based methods for hazard analysis (via the ASHiCS project funded by SESAR WP-E). Research Associate: Kester Clegg
• Rigorous, empirical evaluation of safety engineering methods and techniques

I am interested in collaborations, and in supervising PhD research, in all of the above areas.

My current teaching includes:

• Advanced Programming Concepts (APRC)
• Java Programming Concepts (JAPC)
• System Development Methodologies (SDM)

I sometimes post on the Dependable System of Systems Blog

Publications

2011

• ASHiCS: Automating the Search for Hazards in Complex Systems
  K Clegg, R Alexander
  Proceedings of the 1st SESAR Innovation Days, December 2011

• Using a Software Safety Argument Pattern Catalogue: Two Case Studies
  R Hawkins, K Clegg, R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 30th International Conference on Computer Safety, Reliability and Security (SAFECOMP '11), September 2011

• Is the “System of Systems” a Useful Concept for Hazard Analysis?
  A J Rae, R Alexander
  Proceedings of the 29th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '11), August 2011

• The Need for SoS Safety Cases
  R Alexander, G Despotou, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 29th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '11), August 2011

• Security Assurance Cases: Motivation and the State of the Art
  R Alexander, R Hawkins, T Kelly
  Report produced for CESG, April 2011

• A Risk Modelling Approach for a Communicating System of Systems
  J Aitken, R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 5th IEEE Systems Conference, March 2011

2010

• Matching Research Goals and Methods in System Safety Engineering
  R Alexander, A Rae, M Nicholson
  Proceedings of the 5th IET System Safety Conference, October 2010

• The State of Practice in System Safety Research Evaluation
  A Rae, M Nicholson, R Alexander,
  Proceedings of the 5th IET System Safety Conference, October 2010

• Safety Lifecycle Activities for Autonomous Systems Development
  R Alexander, B Gorry, T Kelly
  5th SEAS DTC Technical Conference, July 2010

• A Case for Dynamic Risk Assessment in NEC Systems of Systems
  J M Aitken, R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 5th IEEE Conference on Systems of Systems Engineering, June 2010

2009

• The Role of the Human in an Autonomous System
  R Alexander, N Herbert, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 4th IET System Safety Conference, October 2009

• Equivalence Arguments for Complex Systems Simulations - A Case-Study
  T Ghetiu, R Alexander, P Andrews, F Polack, J Bown
  Proceedings of the 2nd CoSMoS Workshop, August 2009

• Escaping the Non-Quantitative Trap
  R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 27th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '09), August 2009

• A Critique of the “Unmanned Systems Safety Guide for DoD Acquisition”
  R Alexander, N Herbert, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 27th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '09), August 2009

• Deriving Safety Requirements for Autonomous Systems
  R Alexander, N Herbert, T Kelly
  4th SEAS DTC Technical Conference, July 2009

• Addressing Challenges of Hazard Analysis in Systems of Systems
  G Despotou, R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE Systems Conference, March 2009

2008

• Structuring Safety Cases for Autonomous Systems
  R Alexander, N Herbert, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 3rd IET System Safety Conference, October 2008

• Engineering Safety-Critical Complex Systems
  R Alexander, R Alexander-Bown, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 1st CoSMoS Workshop, September 2008

• Simulation and Prediction in Safety Case Evidence
  R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 26th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '08), August 2008

2007

• Using Simulation for Systems of Systems Hazard Analysis
  R Alexander
  PhD Thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of York, September 2007

• Certification of Autonomous Systems under UK Military Safety Standards
  R Alexander, M Hall-May, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 25th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '07), August 2007

• Certification of Autonomous Systems
  R Alexander, M Hall-May, T Kelly
  2nd SEAS DTC Technical Conference, July 2007

• Ensuring Dependable Systems of Systems
  R Alexander, M Hall-May, T Kelly
  3rd Systems Engineering Research and Technology Conference, February 2007

2006

• System of Systems Hazard Analysis using Simulation and Machine Learning
  R Alexander, D Kazakov, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computer Safety, Reliability and Security (SAFECOMP '06), September 2006. LNCS volume 4166

• Can we Remove the Human from Hazard Analysis?
  R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 24th International System Safety Conference (ISSC '06), August 2006

• Combining Simulation with Machine Learning to Build Accident Models
  R Alexander, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Safety and Security in Multiagent Systems, May 2006

2005 and earlier

• Towards Using Simulation to Evaluate Safety Policy for Systems of Systems
  R Alexander, M Hall-May, G Despotou, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Safety and Security in Multiagent Systems, July 2005

• Characterisation of Systems of Systems Failures
  R Alexander, M Hall-May, T Kelly
  Proceedings of the 22nd International System Safety Conference (ISSC '04), August 2004

Last updated 07/12/2011