Visualizing Complex Systems : Variability in E/E Architecture

Abstract: Scania builds complex products (trucks and busses) from many different parts which must be combined according to particular rules. These rules have to be considered when building the Electrical and/or Electronic system (E/E) architecture of a vehicle. At Scania, the E/E architecture is a combination of Electrical Control Units (ECU) s, Actuators, and Sensors. This architecture is visualized using graph layouts and because of the complexity and the difficulty of reading and understanding such systems, it is essential to choose the right adapted visualization algorithms to the problem domain. For instance, the generated E/E diagrams in many cases are hard to understand, and see the entities and the relations between them. Moreover, in some case there is duplication or reused parts showed. Hence, the diagrams become more complicated to see how different parts interact with each other. Similarly, finding creative solutions to visualize different levels of granularity of the system (high level and low level) is a challenge. All of these challenges require an extensive investigation of how to build simple, readable, and interactive diagrams which simplify the E/E architectures in a way that is easier to understand. This degree project explores different techniques for complex systems, visualization, with the aims to give a comprehensive account of the variability problems raised at Scania. It is also considering a case study for adapting variability issues raised at Scania by concentrating on E/E architecture variability limited to two aspects, Time and Configuration. Moreover, finding creative solutions to visualize different levels of granularity of the system (high level and low level). Besides, it discusses different techniques for making an interactive diagram where the user can interact with such systems in an efficient way that increases the readability, understand-ability, and user satisfaction. In this work, the complex system E/E architecture visualization is well studied with a focus on the literature review as a core method. Similarly, different interactive techniques examined as hypotheses intending to resolve the presented problem. On the other hand, the Iterative design process is carried out to represent the proposed system. Finally, the results of this study, describe how visualization improves the readability of complex systems (E/E architecture) alongside it aims to prove how different interactive techniques enhance the readability and help to simplify complex systems which significantly impacts the users’ satisfaction.