Contact Atif Riaz
- Email: a.riaz@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Aeronautical Systems
- Aircraft Design
Background
Atif Riaz holds a BEng degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from University of Southampton, and a BSc degree in Computer Sciences. He obtained his PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cranfield University. During his PhD, he developed a set-based design methodology for passenger aircraft families. Dr Riaz worked as a Research Fellow at Cranfield University from 2013 to 2019. During this time, his main responsibilities had been contributing to UK and EU research projects, and supervising research (both MSc and PhD level) students. In 2019, he was promoted to Lecturer position. He delivers lectures on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), System Modelling Language (SysML), and Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO). He is the module leader for 'Methodologies for Integrated Product Development'.
His research interests focus on the development of methods and tools for complex systems design and analysis, including MDO, SBD, and MBSE. He has been a key collaborator and academic advisor to multiple EU and ATI-Innovate UK research projects, including CRESCENDO, CONGA, TOICA, WOTF, DAVINCI, PIPS, APROCONE, and currently COLIBRI, in partnership with Airbus and Rolls-Royce. He is the Co-I (co-investigator) for COLIBRI project. Dr Riaz has been a key player in the development of an in-house software named AirCADia, which is a model-based design and analysis environment for complex systems. AirCADia has been installed on IDLab at Airbus (Toulouse) and is being used by Airbus under non-transferable license.
Current activities
Dr Riaz teaches Systems Modelling Language (SysML), Systems Architecture Definition and Analysis, and Product Lifecycle Management as part of the module 'Methodologies for Integrated Product Development' for MSc Aircraft Engineering. He also teaches Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) techniques for 'Computational Design Optimisation' module.
Atif Riaz is working on ATI-Innovate UK research project (COLIBRI), where he is developing a cloud-based (collaborative) design environment. He is currently supervising four PhD students.
Clients
- Airbus SE
- Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Huang G, Sharma A, Chen X, Riaz A & Jefferson-Loveday R. (2025). Numerical predictions of Low-Reynolds-Number propeller aeroacoustics: comparison of methods at different fidelity levels. Aerospace, 12(2)
- El Fassi S, Chen X, Riaz A, Guenov MD, van Heerden ASJ, .... (2023). Managing assumption-driven design change via margin allocation and trade-offs. Journal of Engineering Design, 35(10)
- Bonavolontà G, Lawson C & Riaz A. (2023). Review of sonic boom prediction and reduction methods for next generation of supersonic aircraft. Aerospace, 10(11)
- Jimeno Altelarrea S, Riaz A & Guenov MD. (2022). STPA enabled safety assessment in the architecting of complex systems. Safety and Reliability, 41(4)
- Guenov MD, Riaz A, Bile YH, Molina-Cristobal A & van Heerden ASJ. (2020). Computational framework for interactive architecting of complex systems. Systems Engineering, 23(3)
- Molina-Cristobal A, Chen X, Guenov MD, Riaz A & van Heerden ASJ. (2019). Interactive uncertainty allocation and tradeoff for early-stage design of complex systems. AIAA Journal, 58(3)
- Chen X, Molina-Cristobal A, Guenov MD & Riaz A. (2018). Efficient method for variance-based sensitivity analysis. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 181
- Guenov MD, Chen X, Molina-Cristobal A, Riaz A & van Heerden ASJ. (2018). Margin allocation and trade-off in complex systems design and optimization. AIAA Journal, 56(7)
- Riaz A, Guenov MD & Molina-Cristobal A. (2016). Set-based approach to passenger aircraft family design. Journal of Aircraft, 54(1)
- Nunez M, Datta VC, Molina-Cristobal A, Guenov M & Riaz A. (2012). Enabling exploration in the conceptual design and optimisation of complex systems. Journal of Engineering Design, 23(10-11)
