IS2014

Keynote Speakers

Grady Booch

Chief Scientist for Software Engineering at IBM Research.

Grady Booch is Chief Scientist for Software Engineering at IBM Research where he leads IBM's research and development for embodied cognition. Having originated the term and the practice of object-oriented design, he is best known for his work in advancing the fields of software engineering and software architecture. A co-author of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), a founding member of the Agile Alliance, and a founding member of the Hillside Group, Grady has published six books and several hundred technical articles, including an ongoing column for IEEE Software. Grady is also a trustee for the Computer History Museum. He is an IBM Fellow, an ACM and IEEE Fellow, has been awarded the Lovelace Medal and has given the Turing Lecture for the BCS, and was recently named an IEEE Computer Pioneer. He is currently developing a major trans-media documentary for public broadcast on the intersection of computing and the human experience.

Topic - Systems Engineering for Symbolic and Connectionist Models of Computation

Abstract – There is sea change coming to systems engineering: we are seeing the integration in software-intensive systems of components that we program together with components that we teach or that learn. Already, we understand some best practices for the engineering of symbolic systems, but we have much to learn about the best practices for engineering AI component that use neural networks. In this presentation, we will examine the characteristics of both kinds of systems, and then explore the implications for the system development lifecycle.

Dr. Musumeci Alessandro

President of the Computer Management Club of Rome and Inforav.

Born in Rome on April 16, 1956. Graduated in 1980 in mechanical engineering, transport address, at the University of Rome. He has gained experience both in the National Society (SOGEI, Informatics & Telecommunications, COS Group) and in the International field (Cap Gemini, Andersen Consulting) operating both in the banking environment (in the Systems management of the Banco di S. Spirit) that In the public administration (in Cap Gemini and Andersen Consulting). Manager from 1989 has held positions both as a technological manager (for example from 1990 to 1995 as a director of methodologies and Software engineering at Andersen Consulting in Roma) and as coordinator for the realization of systems Complex computer scientists (e.g. on behalf of the University of Napoli or the Ministry of Justice), directing large organizations in both national and international fields. From March 2002 to September 2006 was the Director general of Information Systems of the Ministry of Education, University and Research and from October 2006 to October 2008 he served as specialist director of information systems of the municipality of Milano, Also dealing with the preparation of the technological dossier for the Expo 2015. From November 2008 to September 2014 was the central director of information systems of the Italian State railways. From June 2006 to April 2010 was the President of the Italian Federation of Computer Managers (FIDA Inform), which is associated with about 1,000 directors of information systems and 10 territorial clubs (Torino, Genova, Milano, Padova, Bologna, Ancona, Perugia, Roma, Napoli and Bari). He is currently the President of the Computer Management Club of Rome, which has more than 500 associates and Inforav. He has been teaching at the chair of Information systems as part of the Bachelor degree in computer engineering at the University of Rome.

Topic - Esperienze di Systems Engineering nella pubblica amministrazione e in grandi aziende pubbliche

Abstract – Intervento incentrato nell'illustrazione di elementi peculiari di Systems Engineering maturati in esperienze dirette con la PA e con grandi aziende Pubbliche quali il MIUR, il Comune di Milano e le Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.

Dr. Pennotti Michael

School of Systems and Enterprises at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Dr. Pennotti is a Distinguished Service Professor and the former Director of Systems and Software Programs in the School of Systems and Enterprises at Stevens Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering, a senior member of both the IEEE and the American Society for Quality. Dr. Pennotti's industry experience includes systems engineering leadership at Bell Laboratories and executive positions at AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Avaya. He holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of New York and a B.E.E. from Manhattan College, and is a graduate of the AEA/Stanford Executive Institute for Technology Executives.

Topic - Answering the Call for Technical Leaders

Abstract – Systems engineers are called to lead! Solving the problems of today's increasingly complex world demands the skills we have and of which we are most proud. Our experience has taught us the importance of understanding not only a problem, but also its context; not only individual elements, but also the relationships between them; not only immediate outcomes, but also long term impacts. But what we know will not be enough. We must also develop new skills and be willing to set aside many of the approaches and much of the language that have served us well in addressing the complicated problems of the past. We need to continue to grow if we are to provide the leadership the world so desperately needs from us.
Systems engineering is usually described as a process. And a process, according to Merriam Webster, is "a series of actions or operations leading to a desirable end." Indeed, over the years we systems engineers have defined many processes: processes for eliciting and managing requirements; processes for designing and evaluating architectures; processes for defining and controlling interfaces, processes for verifying and validating what we develop. But leadership is not a process in that sense. Leadership is the act of influencing another and this cannot be accomplished through a specified series of steps. Leadership is about people – it is about the leaders themselves and about those they aspire to lead.
As systems engineers, our leadership will emerge not from the processes we have developed but from the thought process through which we developed them. As identified by the INCOSE Institute for Technical Leadership, the critical attributes of technical leadership are holding a vision, thinking strategically, fostering collaboration, communicating effectively and demonstrating emotional intelligence. These attributes are all grounded in systems thinking. Indeed, they are individual elements of a leadership system. Given our skills and experience, they are attributes that we can certainly develop. While doing so may require us to stretch in ways we have not stretched before, the payoff will certainly be worth the effort!

Dr. Perini Diego

CERN, Geneva – Switzerland.

Diego Perini is a senior mechanical engineer who spent his entire professional career in different units at CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research. Now he leads the mechanical design office in the engineering department. This service provides computation and design support to all CERN major projects. Among others the LHC machine (Large Hadron Collider) and its upgrade systems, AD (Antiproton Decelerator), and experiments. In his former position as ALICE Project Engineer, he was responsible of the design, construction and installation of all the mechanical large structure for this experiment. ALICE is one of the four main detectors of the LHC machine and is optimized for the study of heavy ion collisions. Previously he was in charge of the mechanical computations and design of the superconducting dipoles for the LHC machine. He wrote the specifications and started the procurement of the main structural components for these magnets. He was the technical responsible of one of the three contracts with external suppliers to manufacture prototype and pre-series dipoles.

Topic - Complex systems and challenging mechanical structures for high energy physic experiments. Some examples from the Neutrino Platform.

Abstract – High-energy physic experiments are complex systems. The particle detectors, the electronics for data selection and acquisition, the services, and the mechanical support structures are all integrated in a highly crowded and optimized space. The size and sophistication of these systems have been constantly growing in time. This note summarizes some basic common characteristics of these apparatuses and describes how these concepts are implemented in several experiments under design or construction to study the behaviour of neutrinos. Neutrinos are intriguing particles: they have no electrical charge, much smaller mass than the other particles and weakly interact with matter. The Standard Model of particle physics as it is today cannot explain some of their measured properties. Therefore, the neutrino studies are gaining importance in the field of high-energy physic. More than fifty research institutes all over the world have established a common important programme of experiments. It foresees the construction of a series of detectors from small prototypes to large elements operating in liquid argon cryogenic environment. The first prototypes have a size of a few cubic meters while the ultimate detector will be in four elements 22.4 m x 14 m x 45.6 m each. One of these elements will contain about 17'000 tonnes of liquid argon. They will be located in an old mine in South Dakota. The cavern is 1500 m below the ground level, a challenge for the transport and assembly of all the components. As final example, I describe the design and construction of the two aluminium cryostats of ICARUS experiment. This experiment is one of the milestones of the neutrino programme and it makes use of the largest liquid argon Time Projector Chamber built and operated so far with a bath of approximately 760 tonnes of fluid.