uni/COMP1110/assign1.txt

Name: Andrew Pollock
Student ID: 4137129
Title: The need for quality control in public transport automation software.
------------

As we move into the 21st century, computer automation becomes increasingly
ubiquitous. In the area of rail transport trains, computer software is
taking a leading role in normal operations. It is important for such
software to perform in a predictable manner. To achieve this requirement, it
must be properly engineered and developed.

There are a number[0] of manufacturers of train control systems, which
suggests that the market for such systems is large enough to support them.
Interestingly, several of the manufacturers, such as Siemens and Alcatel
also produce equipment for the Telecommunications sector, and Alstom have
products for the electricity industry. These companies will be familiar with
the requirements and expectations that the general public have of utility
providers. 

Automation is in many aspects of rail operation. Alcatel's SelTrac[1]
product touches many aspects of rail transportation, from signalling and
speed control to total automatic train operation and management. A software
failure in this system could be catastrophic. Software quality control is
paramount to the safe operation of the system.

The general public has high expectations of basic utilities, such as the
telephone and electricity supply. Given the public reaction to the impact of
the driver strikes in Sydney earlier[2] this year, the public also has high
expectations of the reliability and availability of the commuter rail
network.

The Australian Federal Government takes an interest in rail safety under the
auspices of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau[3]. However, the TSI Act
(2003) only applies to the Defined Interstate Rail Network, which doesn't
include the general commuter rail network that is used by the general public
on a regular basis. This is left up to the individual state governments'
train agencies.

In order to maintain software quality, it is important that a clearly
reproducible, and documented process be followed. This allows for easy
auditing and later analysis. This means that the software can demonstrably
be of a higher quality than software that cannot have its origins accounted
for. Such a process is the Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)[4]. Using
this, each design step is dependent on the preceding one, and analysis can
be done, or redone, as the project progresses. As coding occurs late in the
process, it makes the actual implementation thoroughly analysed by the time
it is executed. By having these processes in place, and having
accountability for them, it is easy for a third party to step in and
perform a quality assurance audit.

The general public have high expectations of public transport safety and
reliability. As this becomes more and more automated, and software controls
that automation, it is important that quality processes are used in the
development of that software. Not only is it unethical not to ensure
quality, there is the risk of legal action in the event of an accident, and
if it is not demonstrable that the design of the software was sound, those
responsible for the software and automation systems could be held to account
for the damage or loss of life resulting.

------------

[0] http://www.tsd.org/cbtc/
        This website provides a number of train control system suppliers,
        and the names of their products, with links.
[1] http://www.tsd.org/cbtc/Suppliers/Alcatel/SelTracBrochure.pdf
        This is a vendor product brochure, in this case, Alcatel's SelTrac
        product.
[2] http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1043819.htm
        This is a transcript from the ABC's The World Today radio broadcast,
        and a story on the Sydney train disruptions earlier this year.
[3] http://www.atsb.gov.au/rail/index.cfm
        This is information about rail safety, on the Australian Transport
        Safety Bureau's website.
[4] Modern Systems Analysis & Design, Hoffer et al.
        This INFS2024 textbook covers the SDLC in great depth.
1	Name: Andrew Pollock
2	Student ID: 4137129
3	Title: The need for quality control in public transport automation software.
4	------------
5
6	As we move into the 21st century, computer automation becomes increasingly
7	ubiquitous. In the area of rail transport trains, computer software is
8	taking a leading role in normal operations. It is important for such
9	software to perform in a predictable manner. To achieve this requirement, it
10	must be properly engineered and developed.
11
12	There are a number[0] of manufacturers of train control systems, which
13	suggests that the market for such systems is large enough to support them.
14	Interestingly, several of the manufacturers, such as Siemens and Alcatel
15	also produce equipment for the Telecommunications sector, and Alstom have
16	products for the electricity industry. These companies will be familiar with
17	the requirements and expectations that the general public have of utility
18	providers.
19
20	Automation is in many aspects of rail operation. Alcatel's SelTrac[1]
21	product touches many aspects of rail transportation, from signalling and
22	speed control to total automatic train operation and management. A software
23	failure in this system could be catastrophic. Software quality control is
24	paramount to the safe operation of the system.
25
26	The general public has high expectations of basic utilities, such as the
27	telephone and electricity supply. Given the public reaction to the impact of
28	the driver strikes in Sydney earlier[2] this year, the public also has high
29	expectations of the reliability and availability of the commuter rail
30	network.
31
32	The Australian Federal Government takes an interest in rail safety under the
33	auspices of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau[3]. However, the TSI Act
34	(2003) only applies to the Defined Interstate Rail Network, which doesn't
35	include the general commuter rail network that is used by the general public
36	on a regular basis. This is left up to the individual state governments'
37	train agencies.
38
39	In order to maintain software quality, it is important that a clearly
40	reproducible, and documented process be followed. This allows for easy
41	auditing and later analysis. This means that the software can demonstrably
42	be of a higher quality than software that cannot have its origins accounted
43	for. Such a process is the Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)[4]. Using
44	this, each design step is dependent on the preceding one, and analysis can
45	be done, or redone, as the project progresses. As coding occurs late in the
46	process, it makes the actual implementation thoroughly analysed by the time
47	it is executed. By having these processes in place, and having
48	accountability for them, it is easy for a third party to step in and
49	perform a quality assurance audit.
50
51	The general public have high expectations of public transport safety and
52	reliability. As this becomes more and more automated, and software controls
53	that automation, it is important that quality processes are used in the
54	development of that software. Not only is it unethical not to ensure
55	quality, there is the risk of legal action in the event of an accident, and
56	if it is not demonstrable that the design of the software was sound, those
57	responsible for the software and automation systems could be held to account
58	for the damage or loss of life resulting.
59
60	------------
61
62	[0] http://www.tsd.org/cbtc/
63	This website provides a number of train control system suppliers,
64	and the names of their products, with links.
65	[1] http://www.tsd.org/cbtc/Suppliers/Alcatel/SelTracBrochure.pdf
66	This is a vendor product brochure, in this case, Alcatel's SelTrac
67	product.
68	[2] http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1043819.htm
69	This is a transcript from the ABC's The World Today radio broadcast,
70	and a story on the Sydney train disruptions earlier this year.
71	[3] http://www.atsb.gov.au/rail/index.cfm
72	This is information about rail safety, on the Australian Transport
73	Safety Bureau's website.
74	[4] Modern Systems Analysis & Design, Hoffer et al.
75	This INFS2024 textbook covers the SDLC in great depth.