World's Longest Suspension Bridge, INCOSE IW Reflections & more …
Authored by René King (PPI Business Development Manager and Senior Engineer)
The INCOSE International Workshop (IW) 2024, held in Torrance, California, from January 27th to 30th, served as the first of two annual flagship INCOSE events for SE practitioners worldwide. For me, the Workshop stands out as one of my professional highlights of the year, where engineers converge to celebrate achievements, exchange insights, and chart the future course of systems engineering. Unlike traditional conferences, these Workshops foster hands-on collaboration, idea exchange, and problem-solving, providing a dynamic platform for networking, learning, and advancing the field. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, INCOSE Workshops drive innovation and facilitate the development of best practices that shape the global landscape of systems engineering.
Setting the scene for progress
The Workshop's first day began with a stimulating opening plenary session, where keynote speakers highlighted INCOSE's achievements during the last year. Now with a total membership of 23,119, INCOSE has experienced a significant growth of 10% in the past year, reflecting its influence within the systems engineering community. Other statistics shared included member retention at 84.4% and approximately 12% of the total INCOSE membership being certified. In a message from INCOSE leadership, it was emphasized that while INCOSE as an organization is evolving, its core principles and values remain steadfast, ensuring continuity and coherence in its mission to ... Read more (12-minute read)
After decades of planning and deliberation, it appears that the construction of a suspension bridge linking Sicily to mainland Italy over the Strait of Messina could finally see progress this year. The recent approval of the final design marks a significant step forward for the long-awaited project.
If realized, the bridge would boast impressive dimensions, stretching over 3,290 meters (10,800 feet), potentially making it the world’s longest suspension bridge. The proposed structure includes three vehicle lanes and a central lane designated for rail transport. Engineered to withstand extreme conditions, such as winds of up to 290 kilometers per hour (180 miles per hour) and seismic events of up to 7.1 magnitudes, the bridge showcases advancements in engineering and infrastructure technology.
Originating from discussions in the 1960s, the project has faced numerous hurdles over the years, experiencing periods of stagnation and revival under different governmental administrations. Critics have raised questions about the project’s feasibility and economic implications, while proponents see it as a potential boon for regional connectivity and development.
The recent approval of the 2011 design, with some modifications, signifies progress toward realizing this ambitious vision. Spearheaded by the state-owned sponsor Stretto di Messina SpA (SdM) and led by the Eurolink consortium, which includes Webuild SpA and other notable entities, the project has garnered significant attention both nationally and internationally.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the project’s potential ... Read more (4-minute read)
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Answered by Robert Halligan (PPI Managing Director and Course Presenter)
Interface management planning is typically content included in overall engineering planning and linked to standard or tailored engineering procedures. However, a discrete “Interface Management Plan” may be used, especially for a critical, complex interface that justifies a formal entity with assigned responsibility for managing the interface from requirements through to successful implementation. Such a group is sometimes referred to as an Interface Control Working Group (ICWG). The subject is addressed in PPI’s Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) Data Item Description (DID) available to clients and alumni of PPI on the Systems Engineering Goldmine. The whole subject is dealt with thoroughly in PPI’s 2-day Interface Engineering and Management course developed by Paul Davies.
Some concerns for interface management planning, both generally and for a given interface, are ... Read full answer (3-minute read)