Generating test cases for marine safety and security scenarios: a composition framework

In this paper we address the problem of testing complex computer models for infrastructure protection and emergency response based on detailed and realistic application scenarios using advanced computational methods and tools. Specifically, we focus here on testing situation analysis decision support models for marine safety & security operations as a sample application domain. Arguably, methodical approaches for analyzing and validating situation analysis methods, decision support models, and information fusion algorithms require realistic vignettes that describe in great detail how a situation unfolds over time depending on initial configurations, dynamic environmental conditions and uncertain operational aspects. Meaningful results from simulation runs require appropriate test cases, the production of which is in itself a complex activity. To simplify this task, we introduce here the conceptual design of a Vignette Generator that has been developed and tested in an industrial research project. We also propose a framework for composing vignettes from reusable vignette elements together with a formal representation for vignettes using the Abstract State Machine method and illustrate the approach by means of various practical examples.