The Future of Risk Analysis, Risk Engineering, and Risk Management:

Machine Learning, Uncertainty Analysis, and Digital Twins

engineer at a tech site
orange computer chip

One of Today’s Most Impactful Fields:
What is Engineering Risk Management?

We rely on a multitude of systems including manufacturing, healthcare, security and civil infrastructure for the proper functioning of society. All of these systems make up an interconnected network that is critical to the activities of everyday life. However, these essential systems are susceptible to unpredictability and risk, which must be accounted for in their planning and ongoing maintenance.


Vanderbilt University’s M.Eng. in Risk, Reliability and Resilience (RRR) is uniquely designed to develop expertise and leadership in making informed decisions that properly account for uncertainty and risk, in order to enhance quality, efficiency, safety, security and environmental protection.

One of Today's Most Impactful Fields:
What is Engineering Risk Management?

skyline with technology overlay
engineer in a white lab coat

Risk management in engineering sees beyond the immediate needs and analyzes and adjusts for different risks and uncertainties that may come. Engineers have assisted communities in reducing the harmful impact of adverse events, from natural disasters to technological hazards.

Core Components of Risk Management: Setting of Codes and Standards

The setting of engineering codes and standards, along with the design and construction of infrastructure, are enacted to prevent damage inflicted by hazards. Codes and standards have evolved through the years, continually being formed by laboratory research and past disasters. 

Always forward-thinking, risk and reliability engineers calculate for safety in the event of uncertainty and how to mitigate the damage once disaster strikes. Risk management engineering has improved societal well-being and even accounted for saved lives.

For example, in the event of a natural disaster, buildings previously were designed primarily concerning life safety issues,’ meaning, the main intent of the design was to ensure all occupants could safely evacuate. 

However, in the past 20 years, codes and standards have been updated to safeguard both life safety issues and the structural integrity of the building in the case of an unforeseen event. Furthermore, building regulations may now include considerations for accessibility for the disabled, historic preservation and decrease of economic loss during design-level events.

Examples of Real-World Applications of Risk Management Engineering

Progress in the realm of risk, reliability and resilience engineering has resulted in sophisticated solutions to help mitigate the damage and loss of life in many significant areas of society. A very small number of examples are below.

Risk Assessment Activities

Input

Steps

Output

  • Hardware
  • Software
  • System interfaces
  • Data and information
  • People
  • System mission

Step 1

System Characterization

  • System boundary
  • System functions
  • System and data critically
  • System and data sensitivity
  • History of system attack
  • Data from intelligence agencies, NIPC, OIG, FedCIRC, mass media

Step 2

Threat Identification

Threat statement

  • Reports from prior risk assessments
  • Any audit comments
  • Security requirements
  • Security test results

Step 3

Vulnerability Identification

List of Potential Vulnerabilities

  • Current controls
  • Planned controls

Step 4

Control Analysis

List of Current Planned Controls

  • Threat-source motivation
  • Threat capacity
  • Nature of vulernability
  • Current controls

Step 5

Likelihood Determination

Likelihood rating

  • Mission impact analysis
  • Asset criticality assessment
  • Data criticality
  • Data sensitivity

Step 6

Impact Analysis

Impact rating

  • Likelihood of threat exploitation
  • Magnitude of impact
  • Adequacy of planned or current controls

Step 7

Risk Determination

Risks and associated risk levels

Step 8

Control Recommendations

Recommended controls

Step 9

Results Documentation

Risk assessment report

Risk Assessment Activities

Input

  • Hardware
  • Software
  • System interfaces
  • Data and information
  • People
  • System mission

Step 1

System Characterization

Output

  • System boundary
  • System functions
  • System and data critically
  • System and data sensitivity

Input

  • History of system attack
  • Data from intelligence agencies, NIPC, OIG, FedCIRC, mass media

Step 2

Threat Identification

Output

Threat statement

Input

  • Reports from prior risk assessments
  • Any audit comments
  • Security requirements
  • Security test results

Step 3

Vulnerability Identification

Output

List of Potential Vulnerabilities

Input

  • Current controls
  • Planned controls

Step 4

Control Analysis

Output

List of Current Planned Controls

Input

  • Threat-source motivation
  • Threat capacity
  • Nature of vulernability
  • Current controls

Step 5

Likelihood Determination

Output

Likelihood rating

Input

  • Mission impact analysis
  • Asset criticality assessment
  • Data criticality
  • Data sensitivity

Step 6

Impact Analysis

Output

Impact rating

Input

  • Likelihood of threat exploitation
  • Magnitude of impact
  • Adequacy of planned or current controls

Step 7

Risk Determination

Output

Risks and associated risk levels

Step 8

Control Recommendations

Output

Recommended controls

Step 9

Results Documentation

Output

Risk assessment report

Educating on the
Cutting-Edge of Risk, Reliability, and Resilience Technologies

The Vanderbilt School of Engineering’s risk, reliability, and resilience program integrates engineering’s newest technologies into its curriculum, equipping students with cutting-edge methodologies for creating impactful solutions. Below are some of these distinguishing technologies:

Career Opportunities in Reliability, Engineering and
Risk Management

engineer working with autocad software
3D engine

As technology and research in reliability and risk management expand, reliability engineer jobs are expected to steadily rise over the next decade by 6 percent.

The many foundational sectors of society require engineering expertise to properly account for unforeseen events.

Below are a few areas reliability engineers may work in:

Cybersecurity

Airport ground safety

Infrastructure

Military/Security

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Energy/Environment

Transportation

Engineer working on medical technology

 

Risk and reliability engineers can work in a multitude of fields—both private and public—and can also be employed in a variety of roles.

 

Below are eight examples of jobs
reliability engineers can hold:

Everything You Need
to Know About Vanderbilt University's Risk, Reliability and Resilience Engineering Master's Degree

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woman working on a motherboard

Vanderbilt University’s Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree in Risk, Reliability and Resilience (RRR) is designed to train experts in critical skills such as assessment and analysis to make informed decisions that account for uncertainty and risk in the foundational systems of society. The M.Eng. in Risk, Reliability and Resilience is a 12-month, 30-hour interdisciplinary program that equips graduates with real-world experience and applicable knowledge to set out on a path full of diverse career opportunities.

The flexible curriculum structure allows students to tailor their studies to their unique personal interests and goals.

The interdisciplinary approach offers a variety of courses and applications for their studies including:

→ Courses on foundations in risk, reliability and resilience engineering

→ Courses in project management, economics, law and public policy

→ Elective courses that can be selected from multiple disciplines

→Capstone projects

A typical course of study may entail:

  • RRR Foundations (12 hours)
  • RRR Applications (9 hours)
  • RRR Management, Law and Policy (6 hours)
  • Capstone Project (3 hours)

While not an exhaustive list, a few possible courses for the program include:

CE 6300 Probabilistic Methods in Engineering Design

CE 6305 Engineering Design Optimization

CE 6310 Uncertainty Quantification

CE 5330 Data Analytics for Engineers

CE 5340 Risk and Decision Analysis

CE 6380 Applied Machine Learning in Science and Engineering

EECE 5287 Engineering Reliability

ECE 6361 Random Processes

EECE 6362 Detection and Estimation Theory

BIOS 6341 Fundamentals of Probability

BIOS 6342 Contemporary Statistical Inference

BIOS 7323 Applied Survival Analysis

CE 5240 Infrastructure Systems Engineering

EECE 6304 Radiation Effects and Reliability of Microelectronics

The Vanderbilt Difference: What Sets the RRR Program Apart

Vanderbilt University School of Engineering is a renowned leader in risk, reliability and resilience research, education and outreach. Instructed by a world-class faculty and backed by decades of institutional research, this rigorous and highly-specialized program equips students with an immersive experience, sending experts into the field to develop meaningful innovations.

Students have the opportunity for mentorship among faculty and peers to further their academic experience beyond the classroom. Furthermore, with extensive relationships with government agencies, industry and foundations, students can apply their academic research to tangible experiences.

Industry Expert:
Why I Chose the
RRR Concentration
at Vanderbilt

engineers looking into the distance
technology waves

I was able to gain knowledge in a range of areas, and it opened my eyes to the different industries/career paths I can pursue.

The program is very unique and applicable to how industries are evolving in terms of technology and data. Since it is unique, it gives me a bit of a different perspective that I hope to utilize as a leader.

darby

– Darby Barnett, M.Eng. in Risk, Reliability, and Resilience, Class of 2022

The encouraging research atmosphere and the outstanding graduates from this program motivated me to strive to be a better researcher.

During my five years stay at Vanderbilt, I constantly learned from countless colleagues, professors, and friends. They all shared these features: keep challenging themselves to stay out of their comfort zone, and never-give-up character.

xiaoge zhang round

– Dr. Xiaoge Zhang, Ph.D. in Civil Eng. with a concentration in Risk, Reliability, and Resilience, Class of 2019

Risk Reliability and Resilience Program Admissions Requirements

Students seeking admission to the RRR program should have baccalaureate degrees in one of the following disciplines: engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences.

An Overview of the Admission Requirements:

1. Online Application

2. Academic performance in previous degree program(s)

3. Resume or CV

4. Three letters of recommendation

5. Statement of Purpose

6. TOEFL Score (if applicable)

Transform Your Career with a Reliability Engineering Master's Program from Vanderbilt University

Earning your master of engineering in risk, reliability, and resilience will empower and embolden you to make impactful contributions to society’s most critical systems that will benefit the generations to come.

 

Take the first step in transforming your career with a master of engineering in risk, reliability, and resilience:

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