Browsing by Author "Smith, H. Todd"

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    A systems engineering approach to designing a remote sensing satellite simulation system
    Smith, H. Todd (Virginia Tech, 1995)
    This project applies the systems engineering process to development of a remote sensing satellite simulation system. Specifically, the project addresses need definition, conceptual design and a portion of the preliminary design. The human factors engineering process also applies because usability is a critical aspect of the stimulation system. Applicable human factors engineering process steps include market research, design objectives, constraints and functional analysis/allocation. The proposed remote sensing satellite simulation system would aid companies during the remote sensing system life cycle. These satellite systems are very complex and expensive. Simulations provide a way to test technical and economic feasibility before actually building the satellite systems. Because simulators are less expensive than operation systems, simulations can represent a cost savings during remote sensing system development. The proposed simulator is easily modifiable, and so it can change throughout the satellite system life cycle to more closely match the simulated system during development and operations. This feature makes the simulator as accurate and applicable as possible during the entire remote sensing system life cycle. This project provides a starting point for preliminary design completion, detailed design, testing, production and operation of the proposed simulation system.
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    A systems engineering approach to the design of a COTS management system
    Basil, Daniel L. (Virginia Tech, 1996-12-05)
    This project applies the management systems engineering methodology to the design and development of a management tool to be used in managing change of the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf [COTS] software, firmware, and hardware utilized within the Mapping Branch of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [NIMA] (formerly known as the Defense Mapping Agency [DMA J). The management tool is used to support the management process overlaying the work process for changing COTS products. By using the management systems engineering methodology to understand how COTS products are changed, the functional requirements for a management tool can be derived in a clear and concise manner. Concurrently, the systems approach is applied in the development of the management tool, referred to as the COTS Management System. The COTS Management System is identified as required by NIMA due to the increasing number of COTS products being used within the Digital Production System [DPS]. The DPS is NIMA's conglomeration of segmented computer systems combined to provide the tools and functionality necessary to produce the myriad of mapping, charting, and geodesic products in both hard-copy and digital format. NIMA also desires to implement the COTS Management System in an effort to achieve the Software Engineering Institutes [SEI] Capability Maturity Model [CMM] Level 3.