Complex Systems

With industrial systems becoming ever more mechanized and reliant on advanced technology, the complexity of equipment, especially in risky industries, is increasing on a daily basis. A thorough understanding of operations and providing safety for these complex systems has become a firm requirement for many. This book offers the knowledge required by safety professionals to provide and maintain the safety of engineering complex systems.

Complex systems have long been an integral part of modern life and can be encountered everywhere. Undertaking a comprehensive study of such systems is a challenging problem, one which is impossible to solve without the use of contemporary mathematical modeling techniques. Mathematical models form the basis for the optimal design and control of complex systems.

Complex systems are systems composed of different components that interact with each other. A well-known example of complex systems are the so-called intelligent transportation systems (ITS). In such systems, amongst others, the environment is highly dynamic. Complex systems often manifest rich, non-trivial and unexpected behaviours. Examples of transportation-related complex systems are: road traffic, traffic sensors, autonomous/automated cars, smart cities, smart sensors, virtual sensors, traffic control systems, smart roads, logistics systems, smart mobility systems, etc.

The study of complex systems attracts the attention of many researchers in diverse fields. Complex systems are characterized by a high number of entities and a high degree of interactions. One of the most important features is that they do not involve a central organizing authority, but the various elements that make up the systems are self-organized.