An ever-increasing number of both functional and non-functional requirements has resulted in growing system complexity which demands new solutions in system modeling and evaluation. As a remedy, service-oriented architecture (SOA) offers services as basic building elements of system design. Service dependability is highly dependent on the properties of the underlying information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. This is especially true for the user-perceived dependability of a specific pair service client and provider as every pair may utilize different ICT components.We provide a model for the description of ICT components and their non-functional properties based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Given a service description, a network topology model and a pair service client and provider, we propose a methodology to automatically identify relevant ICT components and generate a user-perceived service infrastructure model (UPSIM). We demonstrate the feasibility of the methodology by applying it to parts of the service network infrastructure at University of Lugano (USI), Switzerland. We then show how this methodology can be used to facilitate userperceived service dependability analysis.

Design of complex systems involving a number of experts from various fields necessarily includes modeling at different levels of abstraction. Modeling is particularly important in the initial phase of a joint project when all system requirements and constraints have to be clearly defined and understood by all the partners. Once an unambiguous structural model has been achieved and components interfaces fixed, design of components can be done independently. For the initial phase, a very simplified modeling methodology based on UML that can be easily understood and applied has been proposed. The application of the methodology has been presented through the design of full structural model of the infrastructure for precision farming. Modeled infrastructure is an open ICT hardware-software solution based on ISOBUS specification, that enables partial automation of tractors increasing safety and production efficiency. Model achieved through several steps presents a mutual understanding platform between the partners. Most importantly, a precise model has been achieved without the necessity of in deep study of UML by all the partners.