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causal analysis
We are investigating
the use of formal languages
to represent causal reasoning,
especially as used in accident and incident
reporting.
This work will evaluate the suitability of using one or more existing
mathematical representations of causality as the basis for developing
tools for (1) explaining causes and contributing factors to mishaps, (2)
analyzing causal explanations for consistency, completeness, and other
desired characteristics, (3) storing causal explanations for retrieval,
and (4) using previously stored causal explanations in the design of new
systems. The anticipation is that an adequate representation will
require integration of logical, linguistic, and graphical notations. If
a suitable representation can be developed, then appropriate prototype
tools based on that representation will be developed. The purpose of
the work is to improve understanding of why particular mishaps occur,
and to improve the probability that the lessons taught by mishaps will
be lessons learned.
The approach is to build on the pioneering work of people such as
Chris Johnson
and
Peter Ladkin
.
Papers produced as part of the CAUSE project include the following:
- Proceedings of the Second Workshop on the
Investigation and Reporting
of Incidents and Accidents (IRIA 2003),
NASA/CP-2003-212642,
Kelly J. Hayhurst and C. Michael Holloway (compilers),
September 2003.
- Johnson, Chris W.; Holloway, C. Michael:
"The
ESA/NASA SOHO Mission Interruption: Using the STAMP Accident
Analysis Technique for a Software Related `Mishap'"
,
Software: Practice and Experience, Volume 33, Number 12, October 2003, pp. 1177-1198.
- Johnson, Chris W.; Holloway, C. Michael:
"The Strengths and Weaknesses of Logic
Formalisms to Support Mishap Analysis",
Proceedings of the 21st International System Safety
Conference, 4-8 August 2003, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
pp. 1133-1142.
- Johnson, Chris W.; Holloway, C. Michael:
"A
Survey of Logic Formalisms to Support Mishap Analysis"
,
Reliability Engineering and Systems Safety, Volume 80,
Issue 3, June 2003, pp 271-291.
-
Hanks, Kimberly S.; Knight, John C.; and Holloway, C. Michael:
"The Role of Natural Language in Accident Investigation and Reporting Guidelines,"
2002 Workshop on the Investigation and Reporting of Incidents and Accidents, Glasgow, Scotland, July 2002.
The leader of this project,
C. Michael Holloway
began a research sabbatical on October 1, 2003, as a NASA Langley
Floyd Thompson Fellowship recipient.
Mr. Holloway was the general chair
of the 2003
Workshop
on the Investigation and Reporting of Incidents and Accidents (IRIA 2003)
and a member
of the program committee for
IRIA 2002
,
which was held 17-20 July 2002 at the University of Glasgow.
This research was part of a larger effort within the Engineering for Complex
Systems Program to improve mishap investigations and reporting.
This
news
release from Ames Research Center describes
some of the other ECS-sponsored work.
Note: The
tag identifies links that are outside of the NASA domain.
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