SAF Life Cycle

The SAF Development Life Cycle is optimised in line with the specific project organisation and expertise available from the participating partners.

Necessary scientific prototyping and development are performed in the SAF projects, with concurrent engineering of the required infrastructure and enabling software elements.

The Operations Life Cycle includes the delivery of the intended services or software applications to end-users, as well as the continuous Research and Development aiming at improving the targeted products, in line with user feedback.

A simplified view of the main activities performed during SAF development is illustrated in the following diagrams, in a phased approach going from Requirements Definition, to Design, Implementation, Integration, and Pre-operational activities.

Life Cycle Process Overview

Scientific analyses and prototyping are the basis for the definition of the SAF Products and underlining algorithms. The transfer from the Scientific Process to the Engineering Process is a continuous activity during the SAF Life Cycle. Engineering of SAF Products, according to user requirements, and to the expected quality standards, therefore, takes into account the need for a strong interaction between these two processes, up to the final validation of the deliverable products.

SAF Research & Development Process

A waterfall view of the development of a SAF system and infrastructure providing off-line or near-real-time services.

Requirements Engineering Process.

Based on assessed user needs, the SAF User Requirements are established and implemented into a Technical Specification and Design baseline, in line with scientific assessments and plans.

Design Engineering Process.

The SAF design is refined down to the identified developmental components. Pre-developments and scientific prototyping take place to confirm the baseline and prepare for full engineering of the SAF products. Plans for verifications and validations, as well as for SAF configuration management, are also consolidated.

Facility Engineering Process.

The identified SAF components are developed, or made available, as reused items. The SAF components are individually integrated and tested. Preparation for the SAF system level integration follows.

Validation Process.

A Verification and Validation Results Review takes place at the end of this process.

Preparation for SAF Operation.

Following the validation of the SAF products, the SAF infrastructure is prepared for supporting operations. An operation readiness review takes place prior to starting provision of services to users.

Evolutionary SAF Development Process

When a phased development approach is not appropriate, an evolutionary prototyping life cycle is adopted, to ensure an incremental release of the products to users, from the early stage of the development. Providing early feedback, Beta-users contribute to a controlled evolution of the products up to the last planned build.