June 29, Conceptualizing large complex engineering systems as socio- technical systems the case of cadastral systems Presentation Aalborg Maarten Ottens Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management
June 29, Socio-technical? without agentswith agents without social institutions landing-gearairplane with social institutions ?civic aviation Systems differ qua involvement of agents and social factors:
June 29, The research 1.understanding What are socio-technical systems? 2.modelling How can socio-technical systems be modelled? 3.designing (How) can socio-technical systems be designed?
June 29, Existing concepts/theories regarding (complex, technical) systems Social sciences : Actor-Network Theory, descriptive, Callon, Latour All elements are taken as intentional Physics : Complex Systems Theory, predictive Nonlinear dynamics, modelling systems by modelling the elements with simple rules and interacting Engineering sciences : Systems Engineering, prescriptive All elements as rational, logic, within laws of physics and logic
June 29, Looking at systems engineering Systems engineering 1.Static system view, complexity in amount of elements, sorts of elements and relations 2.Dynamic system view, complexity in phases in design approach, e.g. life-cycle design
June 29, A A T T S S 1. Static model (elements) physicalabstract intentionality non intentionality Designers, users Designed, used
June 29, Static model (relations) Kinds of relations technical-technicalphysicalfunctional technical-agentphysicalfunctionalintentional agent-agentphysicalfunctionalintentional agent-socialfunctionalintentionalnormative social-socialfunctionalnormative social-technicalfunctionalnormative
June 29, Structure Process Structure Process Structure 2. Dynamic model
June 29, The rest of the presentation 1.Understanding the cadastral system 2.Modeling: Elements of the cadastral system 3.Designing the cadastral system: Boundaries or what to design How to design 4.Discussion 5.Conclusion
June 29, Understanding: the cadastral system Ownership of real property person right land owner society owned
June 29, Modeling: agents in cadastral system 1.Physical humans 2.Organizations 3.Groups Owner (user) Companies (Professionals: surveyors, lawyers,.. banks) Authorities Schools (universities etc) O/Prof. O/C/A/S O? (Squatters)
June 29, Modeling: social elements in cadastral system FormalInformal ProceduresRituals Legislation (rights)Customary ‘law’ Standards Statutes Study programsSocialization Designed?Emerged?
June 29, Modeling: technical elements in cadastral system Satellites Computers and networks Coordinate measuring devices Databases, archives; documents and maps Markers? (boundary, control point, sign posts)
June 29, Designing: What are the boundaries of the static cadastral system? (What to be designed?) Open for designNot open for design Systems engineering perspective Technology, Companies (as social elements) Social elements, Intentional agents (users), Socio-Tech system perspective Technology, Companies, Formal social elements Informal social elements, Intentional agents (users), Essential for functioning (& open for design) Trust (in others, in authorities), sense of “beruf”
June 29, Designing: How to design? Engineers: if it exists, use it, don’t design it, but if needed improve it (standards, open source software) This is then only applied to elements considered open for design. In cadastral systems however, certain other elements are so important to the functioning that they need to be designed/improved as well. For social elements the process design seems more important then the product design
June 29, Discussion: modeling Social elements have material grounding (documents, boundary marks, legislation,..) abstract social versus physical technical Is there a conceptual distinction between formal and informal social elements as being designed and emerged? Markers, social or technical elements? Data?
June 29, Discussion: designing For design next to structure also process design is needed. Engineers do it, but only for technology Social elements are in Cadastral systems more important then in ‘technical’ socio-technical systems like transportation systems for functioning The classical sense of engineering design does not work for cadastral systems, because informal social elements and trust etc is not taken into account
June 29, Conclusion To deal with intentions and ‘non-designable’ elements we must look at the dynamic system Because these elements are merely influenced then designed, and influencing happens through processes rather then designed structures.