Theme issue on Integrated Formal Methods

This theme issue of the Software and SystemsModeling journal is dedicated to the topic of Integrated Formal Methods. Formal methods allow the modeling and analysis of various aspects of a system. Modeling languages differ in the system aspects they target; numerous techniques address model analysis in these languages, specialized for different kinds of properties. Thus, applying formal methods may involve the modeling of different aspects of a system through different formal paradigms. Correspondingly, different analysis techniques will be integrated to examine differently modeled systemviews, different kinds of properties, or simply in order to cope with the sheer complexity of the system. In recent years there has been a great deal of interest addressing the scalability of such hybrid or integrated formal models and analysis techniques. In addition, several formal methods have matured to the point where they can be deployed on industrial-scale applications, in big part due to their increasing tool support. The aim of this theme issue is to provide a resource that describes the state of the art in integrated formal methods and to outline a roadmap that addresses key challenges in this area. The theme issue grew out of an open call for high-quality submissions on Integrated Formal Methods. Some of the theme issue papers are extended, and thoroughly revised papers initially published in the proceedings of iFM 2013: the 10th International Conference on Integrated Formal Methods, Turku, Finland, June 10–14, 2013. This is one of