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CM30072: Safety-critical computer systems

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: CM30072 Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To give an appreciation of the current state of safe systems development. To develop an understanding of risk in systems. To give a foundation in hazard analysis models and techniques. To show how safety principles may be built into all stages of the software development process.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course a student should be able to demonstrate the following:
1. An understanding of the nature of risk in developing computer-based systems.
2. The ability to choose and apply appropriate hazard analysis models for simple safety-related problems.
3. An understanding of how to approach the design of safety-critical software systems.

Skills:
IT (T, A).

Content:
The nature of risk: computers and risk; how accidents happen; human error. System safety: historical approaches to system safety; basic concepts and terminology. Managing the development of safety-critical systems. Modeling human error and the accident process. Hazard analysis: basic principles; models and techniques. Safety principles in the software lifecycle: hazard analysis as part of requirements analysis; designing for safety; designing the human-machine interface; verification of safety in computer systems.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CM30072 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB06 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCM-AKB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USCM-AFM01 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCM-AKM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USCM-AFB09 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Business (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Business with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCM-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Business with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USCM-AFB01 : BSc Computing (Year 3)
  • USCM-AKB01 : BSc Computing with Year long work placement (Year 4)
Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEEE-AKM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
Department of Mathematical Sciences

CM30072 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Computer Information Systems (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAB12 : BSc(Hons) Computer Information Systems with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCM-AKB12 : BSc(Hons) Computer Information Systems with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.