User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking

Antti Pakonen; Cheng Pang; Igor Buzhinsky; Valeriy Vyatkin

doi:10.1109/ETFA.2016.7733717

User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking

Antti Pakonen, Cheng Pang, Igor Buzhinsky, Valeriy Vyatkin

Aalto University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Formal methods - such as model checking - have definite advantages over more commonplace verification techniques. By providing proof of the analyzed systems' correctness, they are especially useful in domains that are under regulatory supervision, like the nuclear industry. The foremost challenge for wider adoption of model checking is the effort and the expertise required for formalizing functional requirements into verifiable properties. A particular challenge in verifying the application software of industrial process control systems is taking into account the different sequencing and timing issues that arise from, e.g., the dynamic behavior of the plant processes being controlled. In this paper, we review specification languages that are aimed at making formal methods more accessible. We have collected 1079 sample formal properties from practical model checking projects in the nuclear industry, and identified repeatedly occurring property types. We present our findings, and based on the sample data, evaluate the applicability of different approaches on user-friendly property specification.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA),
Publisher	IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Pages	1-8
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-5090-1314-2, 978-1-5090-1313-5
ISBN (Print)	978-1-5090-1315-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA.2016.7733717
Publication status	Published - 7 Nov 2016
MoE publication type	A4 Article in a conference publication
Event	21st IEEE Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2016 - Berlin, Germany Duration: 6 Sept 2016 → 9 Sept 2016 Conference number: 21

Conference

Conference	21st IEEE Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2016
Abbreviated title	ETFA 2016
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Berlin
Period	6/09/16 → 9/09/16

Keywords

model checking
formal specification languages
requirement patterns
requirements engineering
nuclear power

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1109/ETFA.2016.7733717

https://publications.vtt.fi/julkaisut/muut/2016/OA-User-friendly-formal.pdf

Cite this

Pakonen, A., Pang, C., Buzhinsky, I., & Vyatkin, V. (2016). User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking. In 2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), (pp. 1-8). IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA.2016.7733717

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abstract = "Formal methods - such as model checking - have definite advantages over more commonplace verification techniques. By providing proof of the analyzed systems' correctness, they are especially useful in domains that are under regulatory supervision, like the nuclear industry. The foremost challenge for wider adoption of model checking is the effort and the expertise required for formalizing functional requirements into verifiable properties. A particular challenge in verifying the application software of industrial process control systems is taking into account the different sequencing and timing issues that arise from, e.g., the dynamic behavior of the plant processes being controlled. In this paper, we review specification languages that are aimed at making formal methods more accessible. We have collected 1079 sample formal properties from practical model checking projects in the nuclear industry, and identified repeatedly occurring property types. We present our findings, and based on the sample data, evaluate the applicability of different approaches on user-friendly property specification.",

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Pakonen, A, Pang, C, Buzhinsky, I & Vyatkin, V 2016, User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking. in 2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), . IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, pp. 1-8, 21st IEEE Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA 2016, Berlin, Germany, 6/09/16. https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA.2016.7733717

User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking. / Pakonen, Antti; Pang, Cheng; Buzhinsky, Igor et al.
2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), . IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 2016. p. 1-8.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

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AB - Formal methods - such as model checking - have definite advantages over more commonplace verification techniques. By providing proof of the analyzed systems' correctness, they are especially useful in domains that are under regulatory supervision, like the nuclear industry. The foremost challenge for wider adoption of model checking is the effort and the expertise required for formalizing functional requirements into verifiable properties. A particular challenge in verifying the application software of industrial process control systems is taking into account the different sequencing and timing issues that arise from, e.g., the dynamic behavior of the plant processes being controlled. In this paper, we review specification languages that are aimed at making formal methods more accessible. We have collected 1079 sample formal properties from practical model checking projects in the nuclear industry, and identified repeatedly occurring property types. We present our findings, and based on the sample data, evaluate the applicability of different approaches on user-friendly property specification.

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User-friendly formal specification languages - conclusions drawn from industrial experience on model checking

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Cite this