Theories and tools for the verification of complex distributed systems

This project will explore existing formal approaches to designing and verifying complex distributed systems, and will propose new models and associated verification techniques that better tackle system heterogeneity and complexity. In particular, the project will consider the variety of verification concerns (including quantitative ones) different components in a distributed system may have, and will take a systematic approach to tackling complexity through compositionality and abstraction. One possible avenue to explore is the use of coalgebras as general models for complex dynamical systems, but other compositional approaches to modelling complex systems will also be considered. The latter stages of the project are likely to involve the development of prototype tools.