OVERVIEW
My research has focused on development and certification of software intensive safety-critical
systems for the past 30 years. It is a much more fascinating research area than many people
realize! It is also growing in importance. Our group (McSCert) at McMaster University is a
world leader in this field. I constantly recruit graduate students, post-doctoral fellows
and research associates who are technically excellent and passionate about this subject.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., 1979, "The Solution of Large Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations with Applications in Boundary Element Methods"
- M.Sc., 1974, "The Motion of Record Styli & Distortion in Hi-Fi Turntable Systems"
- B.Sc. (Hons), 1971, Applied Mathematics
- B.Sc., 1970, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics
These degrees were obtained at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
RESEARCH TOPICS
- Software certification - see McSCert above. Also, I am a founding member of the Software Certification Consortium (SCC)
- Safety
- Assurance Cases
- Hazard Analysis
- Safety critical systems
- Timing issues in requirements and software design
- Tabular expressions - and their use in industry
- Methods & Software tools for rigorous software development
- Software engineering education
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
- Founded Alan Wassyng Consulting, Ltd in 1986
- Consulted for Ontario Hydro/Ontario Power Generation, 1989-2002
- Helped verify initial version of Shutdown System for Darlington NGS
- Helped develop new methodology for safety-critical software
- Helped develop new versions of Shutdown Systems for Darlington NGS
- Consulted for US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2009 & 2013-2014
- Developed automated remote backup system for PCs, for DS Data Storage Inc, 1987-1989
- At McMaster, conducted research with industry partners: CANDU Energy, FCA, GM, IBM, OPG, SWI, Toyota ITC, US FDA
TEACHING
Graduate Courses
- CAS 703, Software Design (2004)
- CAS 753, Specifying, Implementing and Verifying
Timing Behaviours for Hard Real-Time Systems (2007, 2008, 2011)
- CAS 781, Development & Certification of Software Intensive Safety-Critical Systems (2014)
Undergraduate Courses
- ENG 1D04, Engineering Computation (2006-2008)
- SFWR ENG 2AA4, Software Design I (2004-2006, 2010, 2013-2015)
- SFWR ENG 3E03, Design & Selection of Sequential
Programming Languages (2000-2001)
- SFWR ENG 3F03, Machine Level Programming (2003-2006)
- SFWR ENG 3K04, Software Development for Electrical & Mechatronics Engineers (2008, 2010-2011, 2016-2019)
- SFWR ENG 3X03, Scientific Computation (2005)
- SFWR ENG 4G06/TRON 4TB6, Senior Design Project
(Capstone) for Mechatronics & Software Engineers (2010-2015, 2016-2019)
