Transdisciplinary systems engineering
Implications, challenges and research agenda
Nel Wognum (TU Delft - Air Transport & Operations)
Cees Bil (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University)
Fredrik Elgh (Jönköping University)
Margherita Peruzzini (Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia)
Josip Stjepandić (PROSTEP AG)
W.J.C. Verhagen (TU Delft - Air Transport & Operations)
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Abstract
Transdisciplinary processes have been the subject of research since several decades already. Transdisciplinary processes are aimed at solving ill-defined and socially relevant problems. Many researchers have studied transdisciplinary processes and have tried to understand the essentials of transdisciplinarity. Many engineering problems can be characterised as ill-defined and socially relevant, too. Although transdisciplinary engineering cannot widely be found in the literature yet, a transdisciplinary approach is deemed relevant for many engineering problems. With this paper we aim to present an overview of the literature on research into transdisciplinary processes and investigate the relevance of a transdisciplinary approach in engineering domains. After a brief description of past research on transdisciplinarity, implications for engineering research, engineering practice, and engineering education are identified. In all three areas, the current situation is described, while challenges are identified that still exist. The paper ends with a research agenda for transdisciplinary engineering.