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Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems
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Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3999

Editor

Dr. Tugba Karabiyik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
Interests: systems thinking; engineering design; decision-making in complex sociotechnical systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has emerged as a key methodology for managing the complexity inherent in today’s engineering systems. By employing formalized modeling approaches to support system requirements, design, analysis, and validation, MBSE enhances collaboration, reduces development risks, and ensures better integration across disciplines and lifecycle stages. As systems increasingly integrate physical, digital, and human components, MBSE provides a structured foundation for design, simulation, and decision-making in multi-domain environments.

This Special Issue, “Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems,” seeks contributions that advance the theory, methods, and applications of MBSE. We welcome research papers, case studies, and reviews addressing model-driven architectures, system modeling languages, digital twins, systems-of-systems, cyber–physical systems, AI-assisted engineering, and lifecycle management. Submissions that connect MBSE with topics such as sustainability, resilience, autonomy, and interdisciplinary collaboration are also encouraged.

This topic fits squarely within the scope of Systems, emphasizing system-level thinking, modeling, and analysis to improve understanding, design, and governance of complex systems across diverse domains.

Dr. Tugba Karabiyik
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems 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 2400 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.

Keywords

  • model-based systems engineering (MBSE)
  • complex systems
  • systems-of-systems
  • digital twin
  • cyber–physical systems
  • systems modeling languages (SysML/UML)
  • lifecycle management
  • verification and validation
  • system integration
  • human–system interaction

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

43 pages, 29361 KB  
Article
Towards a Unified Engineering Approach for Variability and Modular Architecture Management in Automotive Systems
by Fabian Goihl, Yannick Lindebauer, Richard von Esebeck, Jivka Ovtcharova and Thomas Vietor
Systems 2026, 14(8), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14080898 - 27 Jul 2026
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Automotive systems are experiencing a rapid increase in complexity driven by the transition towards software-defined vehicles, autonomous functionalities and increasingly interconnected E/E architectures. This transformation intensifies variability across hardware and software domains and challenges established engineering approaches. Traditional modular product development (MPD) provides [...] Read more.
Automotive systems are experiencing a rapid increase in complexity driven by the transition towards software-defined vehicles, autonomous functionalities and increasingly interconnected E/E architectures. This transformation intensifies variability across hardware and software domains and challenges established engineering approaches. Traditional modular product development (MPD) provides structural mechanisms to manage hardware complexity, while systems and software product line engineering (SPLE) offers methods for managing software variability. However, these paradigms are typically applied in isolation and lack an integrated methodology capable of addressing cross-domain variability and architectural synchronization in automotive systems. This paper investigates how SPLE and MPD can be systematically integrated to manage variability and architectural complexity in automotive systems. Following a design-oriented research approach, industry requirements are derived from an automotive case study at an OEM. Existing SPLE and modularization approaches are analyzed against these requirements, revealing gaps in cross-domain traceability, synchronization mechanisms, and lifecycle coordination. Based on this analysis, we propose an integrated methodology that combines variability modeling principles from SPLE with architectural modularization concepts. The approach enables management of module structures, supporting system-level consistency in automotive environments. The main contribution is a model-based-integration framework that bridges variability management and modular architecture design to address increasing system complexity in the automotive industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems)
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27 pages, 5823 KB  
Article
Evaluating MBSE Approaches and Tools for Aircraft Design and Certification: A Comparative Perspective
by Claudio Mirabella, Michele Tuccillo and Pierluigi Della Vecchia
Systems 2026, 14(5), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14050482 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
This article evaluates two model-based systems engineering (MBSE) toolchains that support aircraft certification under EASA CS-23 Amendment 6. Airworthiness requirements and associated acceptable means of compliance are digitalized as Systems Modeling Language (SysML) models that preserve document structure and encode parameters and expressions [...] Read more.
This article evaluates two model-based systems engineering (MBSE) toolchains that support aircraft certification under EASA CS-23 Amendment 6. Airworthiness requirements and associated acceptable means of compliance are digitalized as Systems Modeling Language (SysML) models that preserve document structure and encode parameters and expressions needed for substantiation. The maneuvering and gust flight envelope required by CS-23 Subpart C is used as a representative case to compare workflow integration, robustness, and artifact generation. One implementation combines Eclipse Papyrus with MATLAB to export and parse the SysML model and to execute automated calculations and reporting. The second uses CATIA Magic Systems of Systems Architect (MSoSA) to export stereotype fields to JSON and to run C++ routines orchestrated by activity diagrams. Both toolchains generate certification-relevant outputs, including design airspeeds, limit load factors, and flight envelope plots, while improving traceability relative to document-centric practice. The comparison indicates that the Papyrus/MATLAB approach supports rapid prototyping but is more sensitive to regulatory text changes, whereas the MSoSA-based approach reduces dependence on text–pattern parsing and provides more integrated execution. These results suggest that MBSE can improve the efficiency of preparing certification evidence, with adoption trade-offs driven by licensing cost, integration effort, and organizational maturity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems)
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28 pages, 1810 KB  
Article
Engineering Systems with Standards and Digital Models: Specifying Stakeholder Needs and Capabilities—MGOS
by Kevin MacG. Adams, Irfan Ibrahim and Steven L. Krahn
Systems 2026, 14(5), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14050458 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 416
Abstract
This paper proposes a formal method and associated techniques for completing the ISO/IEC/IEEE Standard 15288 technical process 6.4.2—Stakeholder Needs and Requirements definition within the 15288-SysML Grid framework. The paper is a companion work to Engineering Systems with Standards and Digital Models: Development of [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a formal method and associated techniques for completing the ISO/IEC/IEEE Standard 15288 technical process 6.4.2—Stakeholder Needs and Requirements definition within the 15288-SysML Grid framework. The paper is a companion work to Engineering Systems with Standards and Digital Models: Development of a 15288-SysML Grid, which describes an engineering design method that supports the tenets of the Industry 4.0 paradigm. The formal method presented here is grounded using established constructs from systems science; specifically, the systems principles of hierarchy, emergence, requisite parsimony, minimum critical specification, and requisite saliency. The application of accepted principles ensures that stakeholders are able to objectively specify measurable criteria that can satisfy stakeholder needs and capabilities. The method uses: (1) international standards for systems (e.g., ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288); (2) adopts the four fundamental aspects of system design supported by model-based systems engineering (MBSE); (3) invokes the international standard for the systems modeling language (SysML); and (4) adopts a hierarchical requirements tree that specifies Mission, Goals, Objectives, and Sub-objectives (MGOS) to provide the stakeholder-analysis process a means for articulating system-level engineering requirements. Utilization of the MGOS framework is intended to have a positive impact on the system design process by ensuring reproducibility, replicability, transparency, and generalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems)
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49 pages, 2088 KB  
Article
A Domain-Specific Modeling Language for Production Systems in Early Engineering Phases
by Lasse Beers, Hamied Nabizada, Maximilian Weigand, Alain Chahine, Felix Gehlhoff and Alexander Fay
Systems 2026, 14(2), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14020150 - 30 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
The development of modern production systems involves numerous interdependent disciplines, heterogeneous data sources, and frequent design iterations, making the conceptual design phase particularly complex and error-prone. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a promising approach to manage this complexity by enabling consistent and structured [...] Read more.
The development of modern production systems involves numerous interdependent disciplines, heterogeneous data sources, and frequent design iterations, making the conceptual design phase particularly complex and error-prone. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a promising approach to manage this complexity by enabling consistent and structured system representations. While domain-specific modeling languages (DSMLs) can tailor MBSE methods to specific domains, existing approaches often lack standardized semantics, user guidance, and tool support to ensure consistent model creation and verification. This paper introduces a DSML framework tailored for the conceptual design of production systems, integrating both methodological guidance and standard-based domain knowledge. The approach builds upon the Software Platform Embedded Systems (SPES) framework and extends Systems Modeling Language (SysML) through the Unified Modeling Language (UML) profile mechanism, providing clear modeling constructs, viewpoint-specific diagram types, and automated consistency checks. To enhance comprehensibility and domain alignment, the framework incorporates supplementary DSMLs that capture structures and semantics from established industrial standards. The proposed method is evaluated using an aircraft production case study, demonstrating improved applicability of MBSE for the conceptual design of complex production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for Complex Systems)
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