KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Prof. Dr. Valdemar Graciano-Neto (Federal University of Goiás, Brazil)

Title:
Modeling and Simulation for Systems-of-Systems: The Journey So Far and Frontiers Ahead

Abstract:
Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is a well-established, cost-effective approach for assessing and evaluating systems-of-systems (SoS) architectures. This technique enables the systematic exploration of diverse scenarios, operating conditions, and variables that would otherwise be impractical, excessively costly, or even hazardous to examine directly within real-world SoS deployments. By providing a controlled and flexible experimental environment, M&S supports analysis, risk mitigation, and informed decision-making during both the design and operational phases of complex systems. In this keynote, Dr. Graciano-Neto will present a comprehensive overview of how M&S has been addressed in the scientific literature over recent years. The discussion will emphasize key findings and methodological advances emerging from the research conducted by his group, as well as from collaborative efforts with other scholars and institutions. Through this perspective, the talk aims to highlight current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the application of M&S to SoS engineering.

Short bio:
Dr. Valdemar Graciano-Neto is the author of the book What Every Engineer Should Know About Smart Cities (Taylor and Francis, 2023) and Editor-in-Chief of iSys – Journal of Information Systems (Brazilian Computer Society) since 2025. He is a Tenured Associate Professor at the Institute of Informatics of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Brazil, since 2014. He holds a double Ph.D. diploma in Computer Science and Computational Mathematics from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and in Information Science and Technology - Computer Science track from the University of Southern Brittany, France. He has over 15 years of teaching experience and is a permanent member of UFG’s Graduate Program in Computer Science, supervising M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. He served as General Chair of SBSI 2015, WASHES 2019, and BraSNAM 2024. He founded MSSiS (annual since 2019, with ICSE from 2026) and BlockArch (annual since 2020 with ICSA) workshops. He was a member (2015–2017, 2021–2026) and coordinator (2018–2019, 2023–2024) of the Special Committee on Information Systems of the Brazilian Computer Society. He serves on the editorial boards of iSys and Journal of Universal Computer Science. His research interests include Software Engineering and Information Systems, focusing on software development and architecture, model-driven engineering, systems-of-systems, and smart cities.