We envision a future where engineers, analysts, and decision makers are immersed in highly interactive model-centric environments using digital system models as a primary basis for system decisions. While significant progress on modeling languages, modeling practices, and modeling methods has been achieved, insufficient attention has been given to the necessary interactivity between humans and models. Given emerging modeling toolsets, availability of powerful computational resources, and autonomous decision-aiding, the human role in relationship to models must be re-examined. In this talk, Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Ross will share findings and insights from the ongoing SERC project on Interactive Model-Centric Systems Engineering (IMCSE). The research is motivated by the need to better understand and enable effective “human-model teaming”, while drawing from advancements in data science, visual analytics, and growing knowledge of complex systems. Open areas of inquiry include: how and why individuals interact with models; how multiple stakeholders interact while using models and model generated information; facets of human interaction with visualization tools and large data sets; and underlying fundamentals such as the role of trust in model-centric decision making. The research program uses multiple approaches to investigate the topic including empirical studies, experiments, model-based studies, case studies, and demonstration prototypes. In addition to the specific goals and activities, an underlying objective is to bring together the community of researchers and practitioners involved in this emerging subfield of human-model interaction.

Dr. Donna H. Rhodes is a senior lecturer in the Engineering Systems Division, and principal research scientist in the Sociotechnical Systems Research Center (SSRC). She is the director of MIT’s Systems Engineering Advancement Initiative (SEAri), a research group focused on advancing the theories, methods, and effective practice of systems engineering applied to complex sociotechnical systems. Prior to joining MIT in 2003, Dr. Rhodes held senior management positions in systems engineering and enterprise practices at IBM Federal Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Lucent Technologies. Dr. Rhodes conducts research on innovative approaches and methods for architecting and design of complex systems and enterprises, including predictive indicators of performance, empirical studies of engineering systems thinking and practice, and designing for uncertain futures. Her research is driven by the desire to more predicatively architect socio-technical systems to address significant societal needs in a dynamic world. She is involved in research across multiple sectors including defense, aerospace, transportation, energy and commercial products. Dr. Rhodes received her Ph.D. in Systems Science from the T.J. Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University. She serves on industry and government advisory boards focused on advancement of systems practice and education, as well as on study panels for issues of national and international importance. She engages with government and industry leaders through collaborative research, consulting engagements and executive courses. She has been very involved in the evolution of the systems engineering field, including development of several university graduate programs. Dr. Rhodes is a past president and fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering, and a recipient of INCOSE’s Founders Award and several distinguished service awards. She serves on the INCOSE Systems Engineering journal editorial board.

We envision a future where engineers, analysts, and decision makers are immersed in highly interactive model-centric environments using digital system models as a primary basis for system decisions. While significant progress on modeling languages, modeling practices, and modeling methods has been achieved, insufficient attention has been given to the necessary interactivity between humans and models. Given emerging modeling toolsets, availability of powerful computational resources, and autonomous decision-aiding, the human role in relationship to models must be re-examined. In this talk, Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Ross will share findings and insights from the ongoing SERC project on Interactive Model-Centric Systems Engineering (IMCSE). The research is motivated by the need to better understand and enable effective “human-model teaming”, while drawing from advancements in data science, visual analytics, and growing knowledge of complex systems. Open areas of inquiry include: how and why individuals interact with models; how multiple stakeholders interact while using models and model generated information; facets of human interaction with visualization tools and large data sets; and underlying fundamentals such as the role of trust in model-centric decision making. The research program uses multiple approaches to investigate the topic including empirical studies, experiments, model-based studies, case studies, and demonstration prototypes. In addition to the specific goals and activities, an underlying objective is to bring together the community of researchers and practitioners involved in this emerging subfield of human-model interaction.

Dr. Adam M. Ross is a research scientist in the Engineering Systems Division at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is co-founder and lead research scientist for MIT’s Systems Engineering Advancement Research Initiative (SEAri), a research group focused on advancing the theories, methods, and effective practice of systems engineering applied to complex socio-technical systems through collaborative research with industry and government. Dr. Ross has professional experience working with government, industry, and academia. He holds a dual bachelor degree in Physics and Astrophysics from Harvard University, two masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Technology & Policy, as well as a doctoral degree in Engineering Systems from MIT. Dr. Ross has research interests and advises students in ongoing research projects in advanced systems design and selection methods, tradespace exploration, managing unarticulated value, designing for changeability, value-based decision analysis, and systems-of-systems engineering. He has received numerous paper awards, including the Systems Engineering 2008 Outstanding Journal Paper of the Year. Dr. Ross has published over 80 papers in the area of space systems design, systems engineering, and tradespace exploration. He has led ten years of research and development of novel systems engineering methods and techniques for evaluating and valuing system tradespaces and the “ilities” across alternative futures during early phase design. His approach is trans?disciplinary, leveraging techniques from engineering design, operations research, behavioral economics, and data visualization. He serves on technical committees with both AIAA and IEEE, and is recognized as a leading expert in system tradespace exploration and change-related “ilities.”