Planning Radio Studios in the Age of IT (Mega)trends: a Systems Engineering Approach

The ongoing digital transformation in broadcasting, driven by IT (mega)trends such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and software-defined infrastructures, is fundamentally reshaping the design and operation of radio studios. The transition from hardwarecentric, proprietary systems to IP-based, virtualized, and increasingly automated environments presents new challenges in terms of integration and interoperability. Traditional ad hoc planning approaches are insufficient for managing the complexity of modern radio studio architectures. Instead, a Systems Engineering (SE) approach, as advocated by INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering), provides a structured framework to address these challenges holistically. This research is based on well-established methods of systems engineering and applies them for the first time to the planning of radio studios. Architecture Framework (AF) provides a structured methodology for managing the multi-dimensional complexity of modern radio studio infrastructures. Applying the principles of model-based systems engineering (MBSE), the study defines viewpoints that cover content-based, technical and organizational aspects. The methodology involves: Requirements Engineering (Identifying and formalizing key stakeholder needs for future radio studio designs), Enterprise Architecture Modeling (Create a multi-view model encompassing workflows, technology stacks, and organizational dependencies) and Case Study Validation (Implementing an empirical case study to validate the applicability of the AF approach in a real-world broadcast environment). This research is intended to provide a structured decision-making framework for planning radio studios based on IT trends. Further validation through expert interviews, industry consultation, and prototype modeling will refine the proposed methodology. The findings will contribute to a systematic and future-proof approach to radio studio planning. Toward a Model-Driven Future for Radio Studios This research positions systems engineering as the core methodology for planning state-of-theart radio studios and ensures a structured and scientifically sound approach to address the challenges posed by IT (mega)trends. By integrating AF, MBSE and SE best practices, the proposed framework offers broadcasters a scalable, flexible and architecture-driven planning strategy in the digital age.