Modeling, Simulation, and Automated Evolution in Complex Information Systems Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

Modern Information Systems (IS) face unprecedented challenges related to scale, dynamism, and the need to continuously adhere to critical constraints (cost, compliance, energy). This Special Issue will explore how modeling, simulation, and advanced engineering practices—including intent-driven and multi-ops methodologies—can provide the necessary discipline for evolving these systems. We seek papers detailing innovative approaches to embedding non-functional requirements into system logic, utilizing DSLs and annotations for automation, and creating self-optimizing and auto-evolutionary architectures. Contributions on intelligent orchestration, continuous auditing, and practical deployments in complex, real-world sectors are particularly welcome, with the goal of creating more resilient, efficient, and governable future Information Systems.

We invite submissions focusing on, but not limited to, the following high-impact topics:

• System Modeling for Continuous Evolution: Architectures and models that support auto-evolutionary capabilities, allowing for IS components to autonomously select, integrate, and adapt based on runtime metrics and changing requirements.
• Performance and Quality-of-Service (QoS) Simulation: Techniques for predicting, simulating, and validating non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as performance, cost-efficiency (CostOps), and energy consumption (GreenOps) in distributed and hybrid IS environments.
• Requirements-Driven Engineering: Methods utilizing high-level constraints (Intent-Driven Development) or Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) and annotations to embed operational requirements and governance logic directly into component code and deployment specifications.
• Automated Validation and Auditing: Frameworks and tools for continuous, automated auditing and testing against formal system requirements, supporting the proactive detection and mitigation of issues (e.g., security risks, performance bottlenecks) in operational environments.
• Next-Generation DevOps and Orchestration: Intelligent orchestration (AIOps) approaches and parameterized workflow blueprints for automating CI/CD pipelines, resource provisioning, and dynamic runtime placement of IS components across the cloud/edge continuum.
• Human-in-the-Loop Management: Modeling human–IS interactions through conversational agents or intelligent assistants to simplify complex operational tasks, accelerate developer productivity, and provide real-time context-aware management guidance.
• Case Studies in Complex IS Domains: Practical applications demonstrating the modeling, simulation, and automated deployment of complex IS solutions in fields such as Smart Cities, Industrial IoT, and large-scale enterprise data management.

Dr. Anargyros Tsadimas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.