Circular Systems Engineering

TL;DR

This paper introduces circular systems engineering, a new paradigm emphasizing sustainability in engineered systems through principles like end-to-end and bipartite sustainability, addressing current practice gaps.

Contribution

It defines the concept of circular systems engineering, proposes two core principles, and discusses organizational patterns, challenges, and research opportunities for sustainable system design.

Findings

Introduces the concept of circular systems engineering.

Defines two principles: end-to-end and bipartite sustainability.

Identifies organizational patterns and challenges for implementation.

Abstract

The perception of the value and propriety of modern engineered systems is changing. In addition to their functional and extra-functional properties, nowadays' systems are also evaluated by their sustainability properties. The next generation of systems will be characterized by an overall elevated sustainability -- including their post-life, driven by efficient value retention mechanisms. Current systems engineering practices fall short of supporting these ambitions and need to be revised appropriately. In this paper, we introduce the concept of circular systems engineering, a novel paradigm for systems sustainability, and define two principles to successfully implement it: end-to-end sustainability and bipartite sustainability. We outline typical organizational evolution patterns that lead to the implementation and adoption of circularity principles, and outline key challenges and research opportunities.