Research
Field and Focus
My research focuses on Human Systems Integration (HSI), specifically on user-centered design of complex systems.
I am interested in human activities—such as design, decision-making, and creativity—and how they are integrated into broader sociotechnical systems.
My goal is to understand how the design of these systems can support, amplify, and enhance human activity.
My contributions fall into two main categories:
The development of computer tools to support human activity, aimed at aiding decision-making, creativity, and exploring solutions;
Formalization of a Scenario-Driven Engineering (SDEG) Methodology for the user-centered design of complex sociotechnical systems.
Methodological Approach
The research I conduct—and that I direct—falls within the framework of Design Research Methodology (DRM), a research approach specifically designed for the fields of design and engineering.
This methodology comprises several complementary steps:
Literature review and definition of a design space;
Descriptive field studies to observe actual practices and user needs;
Development and experimentation of prototypes, tested with end users to validate conceptual and functional hypotheses.
My work approach is collaborative: I integrate transdisciplinary projects (such as the project on decision-making for precision livestock farming (E. Villeneuve et al., 2019; É. Villeneuve et al., 2019)) and enrich them with a computer science dimension.
I place particular importance on mentoring and knowledge transfer, notably through the supervision of internships, doctoral theses, and postdoctoral fellowships detailed below.
My current research areas are:
- digital twins,
- decision support tools,
- and the digital product passport.
Scientific Trajectory
My Master’s research (D. Masson et al., 2010) and doctoral thesis (D. Masson, 2014) focused on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), centered on creativity and example generation to support the creativity of HCI designers in the early stages of design. I became interested in this activity to propose tools to support exploration and inspiration, positioning the computer as a creative partner for the designer (through AI and genetic algorithm approaches) with inspiration search tools through the automatic generation of task-guided examples and knowledge capitalization (D. Masson et al., 2011b, 2011a), and the exploration of existing examples [Peña-Arrázola et al. (2015); (D. Masson et al., 2014), or the structuring of models produced by designers (Demeure et al., 2011). From my earliest work, I have been interested in the role of humans and machines in human activity, borrowing task and activity analysis methods from ergonomics and cognitive science.
I then broadened this focus to include collective creativity (Legardeur et al., 2020) and the emergence of projects in multi-stakeholder contexts (Ambrosino, Masson, Abi Akle, et al., 2017), contributing to the development of methodologies for facilitation, qualitative evaluation of ideas, and team convergence, and proposing IT tools to support them (STAR (Ambrosino, Masson, Legardeur, & Tastet, 2016; Ambrosino, Masson, & Legardeur, 2017), IdeaValuation (Ambrosino, Masson, & Legardeur, 2016), DialoJ (D. Masson, 2016)). This phase led me to consider the social and organizational dimensions of design in a more systemic way. I continue to learn from the human factors community by getting involved in the Ergo-IA community (D. H. Masson & Clay, 2018; D. Masson & Legardeur, 2016); In parallel, I studied the influence of immersive tools on the creativity and physiological state of designers, specifying the links between modalities (2D/VR), user experience, and creative performance (Houzangbe et al., 2022, 2023).
From 2019 onwards, I focused my work on multi-criteria decision-making and cyber-physical-human systems, developing decision support systems and interactive interfaces (including Tamarin (D. Masson et al., 2020/2020)), validated on real-world cases (precision livestock farming (E. Villeneuve et al., 2019; É. Villeneuve et al., 2019), NZEB renovation (Laguna Salvado et al., 2019; Laguna Salvadó et al., 2022; Salvadό et al., 2019)). There, I formalized decision-making processes integrating uncertainties, heterogeneous preferences, and sensitive parameter exploration, reinforcing the idea of situated and context-dependent decision-making.
Since joining the Flextech Chair in 2019 and under the mentorship of Professor Guy André Boy, my research area has evolved towards human-systems integration, at the intersection of systems engineering and human factors. This field addresses the need to integrate humans from the design stage of complex systems, going beyond simple human-machine interaction. Within the Chair, which I have held since 2025, I am interested in developing systems engineering design methods based on scenario-driven engineering approaches (G. Boy et al., 2020; G. A. Boy et al., 2024; D. Masson & Villeneuve, 2025).
As a first application focus, I explored digital twins (DTs) for critical systems. With PRODEC, I articulated procedural scenarios and declarative configurations to loop design, virtual prototyping, and human-in-the-loop simulation, revealing the emergence through real-world activity and the need for physical and cognitive tangibility metrics (G. A. Boy et al., 2024). In parallel, with Stélian Camara Dit Pinto, I developed the Reality Anchor Methodology (RAM), which formalizes the reality anchors necessary for situational awareness in DTs, from elicitation in operator activity to experimental validation (Camara Dit Pinto et al., 2021; Camara Dit Pinto et al., 2023; Camara Dit Pinto et al., 2024; Pinto et al., 2021). These approaches have been deployed in remote control towers, where we defined the properties of the operational context, proposed a context acquisition methodology, and demonstrated the value of iterative simulations for engaging stakeholders and detecting emerging properties early (Disdier et al., 2023; Disdier, Masson, Jankovic, & Boy, 2024; Disdier, Masson, Jankovic, & BOY, 2024). More recently, I proposed FIRE, a human-centered framework for designing and characterizing digital twins of sociotechnical systems along three dimensions: intrinsic (autonomy, structures/functions), extrinsic (contextual integration), and reflexive (self-assessment and adaptive capacity). FIRE serves both as a design guide and a descriptive tool for analyzing existing digital twins, explicitly aligning models, context, and human perspectives (D. Masson & Villeneuve, 2025).
In a second area of application, I explored product information and transparency in the textile supply chain, from digital product passports to detailed traceability, developing data models and information tools to support sustainable purchasing decisions (D. H. Masson et al., 2021; Ospital, Masson, Beler, et al., 2022a; Ospital, Masson, Beler, et al., 2022b, 2023b; Ospital, Masson, Legardeur, et al., 2022; Ospital et al., 2023a). The circular textile supply chain is itself a complex socio-technical system into which I tried to inject a user-centered approach based on understanding the field and the supply chain actors, in order to propose a meta-model of digital product passports enabling the development of these tools. This work allowed Pantixka Ospital to submit its meta-model to the European Commission. I continue to lead research in this second area.
Thus, my research trajectory reflects my evolution through this paradigm shift: from modeling human-machine interaction to understanding and designing systems that integrate humans as an essential component. It demonstrates a consistent ambition: the integration of humans—in their cognitive, organizational, and social dimensions—at the heart of the design and evolution of sociotechnical systems.
Supervision and Mentoring
Current PhD Projects
- Kenza DOULKIFL
Supervisors: Christophe Merlo (Director, CNU 61), Laura Laguna (Co-supervisor, CNU 61), Dimitri Masson (Co-supervisor, CNU 27) Title: Towards a Circular Textile Supply Chain
Kenza is working on developing a digital product passport to support the transition to a circular textile industry.
Her research aims to model the post-consumer supply chain, integrating its technical, organizational, and informational dimensions, in order to understand its complexities.
The objective is to identify the decision points and critical data necessary for implementing effective circular systems.
Supervised Theses
- Alexandre Disdier
Supervisors: Marija Jankovic (Director, CNU 27), Guy André Boy (Co-director, CNU 27), Dimitri Masson (Co-supervisor) Title: Proposal for a virtual air traffic control tower system based on a collaborative Human-Systems concept
Alexandre is conducting a PhD in human-systems integration in the context of air traffic control, with a contribution focused on modeling the operational context.
Publications: [Disdier (2022); Disdier et al. (2023); Disdier, Masson, Jankovic, & BOY (2024); (Disdier, Masson, Jankovic, & Boy, 2024)
- Pantxika Ospital
Supervisors: Jeremy Legardeur (Director, CNU 60), Dimitri Masson, Cédrik Beler (CNU 61)
Title: Towards Total Supply Chain Traceability […]
This thesis is part of the ESTIA Bali Chair project, in CIFRE partnership with Belharra Numérique.
I contribute my vision of human-system integration through user-centered design.
Special Mention: GFC2022 Innovation Award (Ospital, Masson, Beler, et al., 2022b).
Publications: [Ospital, Masson, Beler, et al. (2022b); Ospital, Masson, Legardeur, et al. (2022); Ospital, Masson, Beler, et al. (2022a); Ospital et al. (2023b); Ospital et al. (2023a)
- Stélian Camara dit Pinto
Supervisors: Guy André Boy (Director), Dimitri Masson (Co-supervisor), Eric Villeneuve (Co-supervisor, CNU 61)
Title: Digital twin for situation awareness support: the Reality Anchor Elicitation Methodology
PhD thesis in human-systems integration applied to the oil industry.
Contribution: user-centered design of a digital twin for decision support.
Publications: [Camara Dit Pinto et al. (2021); Camara Dit Pinto et al. (2023); (Camara Dit Pinto et al., 2024)
- Julien Ambrosino
Title: Contributions of hybridizing creativity methods […] Supervisors: Jeremy Legardeur (Director, CNU 60), Dimitri Masson (Co-supervisor) Defense date: June 22, 2018 URL: http://theses.fr/2018BORD0094
My collaboration focused on the design and development of Ideavaluation, a prototype electronic brainstorming tool.
Publications: (Ambrosino, Masson, Legardeur, & Tastet, 2016; Ambrosino, Masson, & Legardeur, 2016; Ambrosino, Legardeur, et al., 2016; Ambrosino, Masson, Abi Akle, et al., 2017; Ambrosino, Daniel, et al., 2017; ambrosino2017_STARMethodology?)
Thesis Supervision
- Jérémie Faham: design of DialoJ (D. Masson, 2016), a networking tool based on the characterization of regional entrepreneur profiles.
See the tool (uncredited) – Credited contribution here
- Antoine Millet: development of a tool for defining a Sport-Health semantic space and methodological support.
Publications: [Millet, Abi Akle, et al. (2019); (Millet, Akle, et al., 2019)
Postdoctoral Research Supervision
2025, supervision of Dr. Alexandre Disdier on the DIGITS project, focusing on developing a context acquisition methodology applied to the redesign of a paint line for elementary parts in the aerospace industry.
2021, mentoring of Dr. Samory Houzangbe on the CAP’MOOD project (Carnot Arts Institute) investigating the influence of virtual reality on creativity.
Publications: (Houzangbe et al., 2022, 2023)
Master’s Student Supervision
I supervise several students each year, from the third year of undergraduate studies (L3) to the second year of master’s studies (M2).
NAASC (New Aquitaine Academic Space Center)
Within the framework of NAASC (New Aquitaine Academic Space Center), I am in charge of developing a nanosatellite payload and its control room. I have supervised 15 interns, often in teams of two.
2025
Master 1 - Flavien Serret, Laura Forest: Command and Control Center - Phase B + PDR
Master 1 - Mathias Phillipponneau, Scott Claessens: Alto Payload - Phase C + Critical Design Review
Master 1 - Clara Hastoy: Battery Qualification
Master 1 (6-month International Mobility) - Frank Salas: - Software Development for the Alto Payload
Bachelor (8-month International Mobility) - Exodus Guangul: One-year exchange program from the University of Salford.
2024 - Master 1 - Lucie Coutet, Clement Meilleray: Control Center - Phase A
2024 - Master 1 - Titouan Bernard, Oscar Bernard, and Mathias Dieu: Alto Payload - Phase C
2023 - Master 1 - Nicolas Petit and Nicolas Barrière: Alto Payload - Phase B
2022 - Master 1 - Julian Penner: Alto Payload - Phase B
2020 - Master 1 - Arthur Leblond: Specification of a scientific payload for an ALTO nanosatellite - Phase A
Circularity and Textiles
- 2019 - Master 2 - Bixente Demarq, Alex Marquoin: The students focused on the automated dismantling of shoes, in a complex project involving numerous industrial partners. I guided them on needs analysis methodology and complex process modeling.
At the end of the internship, both were recruited as research engineers within the BALI chair to continue developing automation projects related to recyclability in the textile, fashion, and apparel industries. Publication: (Demarcq et al., 2022) - 2018 - Master 1 – Camille HUBERT
Design of a software tool to accelerate textile prototyping at Decathlon.
Digital Twin
- 2010 - Master 1 - Augustin Aubert: Design and development of a digital twin of the Addimadour research platform (ESTIA). This tool, presented at the Carnot Arts Institute, served as a basis for the design of future digital twins.
Decision Support
- 2010 - Master 1 Charlotte Joguet: Evaluation of a decision support algorithm within the framework of the Rezbuild project (D. Masson et al., 2020/2020).
In Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) on Creativity Support Tools
- 2018 - Master 1 (International Exchange) – Anastasiya ZAKREUSKAYA
Continuation of the development of a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to support brainstorming activities. - 2017 - Master 1 – Maëva LE CLÉCH Development of a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to support brainstorming activities. - 2015 - Master 2 – Sergio PENA-ARRAZOLA
Design, development, and testing of a tool to aid in finding inspiration for website design. The I++ tool is an interactive gallery of websites highlighting interaction and aesthetics.
This work resulted in an international publication.
Publication: (Peña-Arrázola et al., 2015) - 2013 - Master’s Degree – Luiza CICONNE
Design and development of a prototype tool for documenting creativity processes and methods. The tool allowed for capturing creative activities (e.g., brainstorming, idea selection) and recommending methods or tools to use in subsequent stages.
- 2012 - Master’s Degree – Zeina ABU-AISHEH
Design and development of a tool for the automatic analysis of websites and human perception of style. This work led to a publication at an international conference.
Publication: (D. Masson et al., 2014)
Scientific Outreach in Systems Engineering
INCOSE
Human System Integration Working Group
I have been a member of the working group since 2020, the group’s webmaster since 2021, and the co-chair since 2024. Within the working group, I contributed to the writing of the INCOSE primer on HSI (Kennedy et al., 2023) and served on the scientific committee for HSI2019, technical chair for HSI2020, early-paper chair for HSI2021, and then co-chair for HSI2022, HSI2024, and HSI2025.
Technical Leadership Institute
Inducted member (8th cohort). A global network dedicated to developing technical leadership skills. (Williams et al., 2024)
AFIS
Administrator
I have been an AFIS administrator representing ESTIA since 2023.
AFIS International Relations Officer
Since October 2025: International Relations Officer – INCOSE within AFIS.
Human Factors Technical Committee (AFIS)
2022: Co-facilitator of the AFIS Human Factors Technical Committee, aiming to align human and systems engineering processes.
Participation in Research Projects
I have participated in numerous regional, national, and European collaborative projects, including:
Digits (CORAC, 2025-…): Supervision of two postdoctoral researchers: Development of a Digital Product Passport (PNP) for the aerospace industry and design of a decision support tool for the painting lines of elementary parts.
RUD (EUROSTARS, 2021–2022): Mentoring of a postdoctoral researcher in user-centered AI design (Samory Houzangbe).
FtAlliance (Erasmus+, 2020–2022): https://www.fashiontechalliance.eu/en/ Project development, writing a report on future fashion-tech jobs (Caulfield-Sriklad et al., 2023), organizing a Decathlon workshop.
Rezbuild (H2020, 2017–2021): https://rezbuildproject.eu/ Development of the Emperor Tamarin tool (D. Masson et al., 2020/2020).
Publications: [Salvadό et al. (2019); Laguna Salvado et al. (2019); (Laguna Salvadó et al., 2022)
- Cap’Mood (Carnot ARTS, 2021): Postdoctoral support on VR and creativity.
Publications: (Houzangbe et al., 2022, 2023)
- Neptune (H2020, 2016–2018): https://www.neptune-project.eu/About-Neptune/At-a-glance Supervision of Julien Ambrosino’s PhD thesis, development of Ideavaluation (Ambrosino, Masson, & Legardeur, 2016).