Models in Engineering
Course Description
Engineering practice is full of models—from equations to prototypes to simulations.
But which should you choose and when should you use which models? In this course,
you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of practical and conceptual modeling
considerations so you can make more effective decisions supported by modeling
analysis.
What You'll Learn
Explain what types of models exist in engineering and how they can be organized into
an overall taxonomy.
Enumerate the purposes for which models are created in engineering and evaluate
the success of modeling for those purposes against your own career experience.
Describe a potential model development process, leading to models of increasing
levels of fidelity.
Demonstrate through examples how models are used to make decisions in
engineering and how models can be used for optimization, including the definition of
design variables, fixed parameters, objective functions and constraints.
Evaluate the credibility and fidelity of existing models using a set of clear criteria.
Evaluate and explain whether it is better to pursue a single model or an ensemble of
models in support of a specific problem/decision. This includes the resolution of
conflicts when multiple models provide contradictory results.
Explain the basic principles of combining subsystem models together into a system
model in a multidisciplinary computational environment.
Understand the basic principles of verifying and validating models.
Examine the tradeoffs between the use of physical and virtual prototypes for system
verification, validation, and testing. Decide when to invest in additional modeling
versus additional physical testing of systems.
Instructors
Dr. Bruce Cameron Faculty Director of the Architecture and Systems
Engineering: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems online program,
Director of the System Architecture Lab
Dr. Olivier de Weck Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering
Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Editor-in-Chief of Systems
Engineering, INCOSE Fellow
Dr. Warren Hoburg Boeing Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautics and
Astronautics and Astronaut Candidate
Dr. Donna Rhodes Director, Systems Engineering Advancement Research
Initiative
Dr. Adam Ross Research Scientist
