Software V&V for the Transportation Industry

Much of the transportation infrastructure is controlled and managed by safety-critical software. Many safety-critical practices used in other safety-critical industries are applicable to the transportation industry. In addition, there may also be federal and state regulations and contractual Software V&V requirements that apply.

Typical Software V&V activities include:

Participating in requirements analysis and document reviews
Performing and/or participating in safety-critical code reviews
Performing and/or reviewing static and/or dynamic code analysis
Performing and/or witnessing unit and integration testing
Performing risk assessments and identifying safety cases
Performing and/or witnessing system validation and regression testing
Performing Baseline Change Assessments
Measuring Software Reliability Growth

Software V&V services are offered in many software safety-critical areas, including those related to the documents listed below:

Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) Hardware and Software for Train Control Applications: System Safety Considerations, DOT/FRA/ORD-03/14 April 2003
Introduction to Software Configuration Management, FRA, August 2006
49 CFR Part 236—Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Signal and Train Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances
Software Management Control Plan
Software Hazard Reporting
IEEE Standard 12207 Systems and Software—Software Development Lifecycle Processes

In addition, I can also provide the following services:

Assess compliance of software subcontractors to applicable standards and regulations
Qualify COTS software for safety-critical applications
Develop and review software development practices appropriate for safety-critical systems—including software configuration management practices and software hazard reporting