The IMPRESS DDT: a database design toolbox based on a formal specification language

The Database Design Tool prototype is being developed in the IMPRESS project (Esprit project 6355). The IMPRESS project started in May 1992 and aims at creating a low-level storage manager tailored for multimedia applications, together with a library of efficient operators, a programming environment, high-level design tools and methodology. The DDT is part of this last effort.\ud \ud The project focuses on the field of Technical Information Systems, where there is a need for tools supporting modeling of complex objects. Designers in this field usually use incremental design or step by step prototyping, because this seems to be best suited for users coping with complexity and uncertainty about their own needs or requirements. The IMPRESS DDT aims at supporting the database design part of this process

A FRAMEWORK FOR FUNCTION SPECIFICATIONS-TO-CONCEPTUAL FORM TRANSLATION TOOL IN FUNCTION-ORIENTED MECHANICAL DESIGN SYSTEMS

Design is functionality driven. All products and parts have some intended reason behind their existence. Although computer aided systems have made considerable advances in capturing and representing geometrical shape, not much progress has been made in capturing and modeling product functionality and its physical realization. This research proposes a methodology to assist designers during the first stages of design. This methodology provides a framework to help the designer translate functional specifications into conceptual forms. This research develops a translation tool to model functionality and to carry out conceptual design with the aid of the computer. This tool serves as a bridge between the conceptual design phase and the detailed design phase of a product. The translation tool developed in this research supports the conceptual design phase by providing a functional data model, a function server model, and a conceptual product model. The functional model includes the use of operands and relations to define and capture product functionality. The function server model represents the physical realization of the specified functions. The conceptual product model organizes and documents the product information in both the functional and the physical domains. The knowledge base for the function servers is stored in a function driven database. This database allows the designer to view design possibilities that may never have occurred to them.Models provided in this work have been implemented as a relational database system by using MySQL. A web-based graphic user interface is developed with PHP to provide an interactive environment for modeling and for searching the function driven database. Propagation of functional and physical information to downstream design activities has been enabled by the use of the XML data format. The models and concepts developed in this research are validated through a case study of a realistic mechanical device

Automated Design of Steel Trusses

Designing an automated procedure for the optimal design of any structural system poses special challenges. Converting this methodology into a practical tool is even more challenging. In this research, a point-and-click software system is developed for the optimal design of roof truss systems. The starting point is a roof template containing minimal user input - outline of the truss, truss spacing, load information, and cost figures. A ground structure is constructed as the starting point of the design iterations. The Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used as the optimization tool to drive the design changes. Using the database of available sections, the member cross-sections are selected for the top and bottom chords, and the webs. In addition, the number and layout of the web members is also determined. The final design is obtained so that the truss has the lowest cost and also satisfies AISI-LRFD design specifications. Numerical experience using the developed methodology and the software system on an Intel-based PC running Microsoft Windows OS shows that optimal designs can be obtained in a few minutes

STR-996: OPTIMIZATION FOR BRIDGE TYPE SELECTION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Many Researchers have attempted to establish a methodology for the selection of bridge type in a systematic manner. Knowledge based systems (KBS) and other Expert Systems (ES) have been used for this purpose but they have some limitations and restrictions. This paper proposes a methodology to implement a Decision Support System (DSS) in an artificial intelligent environment that aims to suggest a bridge type with its main components at the conceptual design phase, based on the characteristics and performance of existing and similar bridges in order to predict the performance of proposed ones that have been analyzed by decision makers with limited subjectivity. The proposed methodology is divided into three main divisions: 1) this division includes a database that will be structured to store appropriated information besides including models like Point Scale and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) systems that will serve for linguistic conversion to numbers needed for the DSS engine. This division contains as well all the mandatory criteria that have influence on the performance of proposed bridges. 2) this division is the core of the “DSS Engine” where it receives the information from the database that will be implemented in an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) module for training, testing and then predicting the performance of a new case bridge. Afterwards a decision will be made to implement the ANN’s results into a Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) environment to visualize the suggested design and to predict the potential problems. 3) In this division, a final decision will be made based on the results of the second division. In the proposed DSS, most of the factors are considered as criteria in the database; criteria that have influence on the decision are automatically considered during the analysis process and are introduced in the DSS Engine. The flexibility of the proposed methodology and particularly the database and the method of analysis will make the DSS very helpful in the area of bridge design and management. This will provide bridge engineers with an efficient tool that will minimize the subjectivity in their decisions. A case project will be considered to test the workability and capability of the proposed methodology

RESOLVING DATABASE CONSTRAINT COLLISIONS USING IIS*CASE TOOL

Integrated Information Systems*Case (IIS*Case) R.6.21 is a CASE tool that we developed to support automated database (db) schema design, based on a methodology of gradual integration of independently designed subschemas into a database schema. It provides complete intelligent support for developing db schemas and enables designers to work together and cooperate reaching the most appropriate solutions. The process of independent design of subschemas may lead to collisions in expressing the real world constraints and business rules. IIS*Case uses specialized algorithms for checking the consistency of constraints embedded in the database schema and the subschemas. IIS*Case supports designers in reviewing and validating results obtained after each step of the design process. The paper outlines the process of resolving collisions. A case study based on an imaginary production system is used to illustrate the application of IIS*Case. Different outcomes and their consequences are presented

RESOLVING DATABASE CONSTRAINT COLLISIONS USING IIS*CASE TOOL

Integrated Information Systems*Case (IIS*Case) R.6.21 is a CASE tool that we developed to support automated database (db) schema design, based on a methodology of gradual integration of independently designed subschemas into a database schema. It provides complete intelligent support for developing db schemas and enables designers to work together and cooperate reaching the most appropriate solutions. The process of independent design of subschemas may lead to collisions in expressing the real world constraints and business rules. IIS*Case uses specialized algorithms for checking the consistency of constraints embedded in the database schema and the subschemas. IIS*Case supports designers in reviewing and validating results obtained after each step of the design process. The paper outlines the process of resolving collisions. A case study based on an imaginary production system is used to illustrate the application of IIS*Case. Different outcomes and their consequences are presented

Talking Titler: Evolutionary and Self-Adaptive Land Tenure Information System Development

Conventional land registration systems often do not produce the desired results in uncertain land tenure situations such as peri-urban areas in developing world cities, post-conflict situations, land restitution claims and aboriginal land systems. In the Talking Titler system, flexibility in creating relationships between people and between people and their interests in land has been the primary design feature. It is a tool for prototyping different designs and for developing land tenure information systems usung evolutionary strategies. The methodology was originally conceived in urban informal settlement upgrade projects and land reform and land restitution projects in South Africa in the 1990’s. In recent years, the concepts have been tested through interviews with aboriginal peoples groups in Canada, field trials and an initial implementation in land regularization in Nigeria, and a land administration study in Somaliland. The paper overviews the conceptual design of the system, how the design was formulated, testing of the system, and current development. The paper concludes by overviewing an initial design and testing with  evolutionary database development and self-adapting software using an extensible markup language (XML) database to reduce the human input into system changes as it evolves

A Patient-Centered Framework for Evaluating Digital Maturity of Health Services: A Systematic Review

© Kelsey Flott, Ryan Callahan, Ara Darzi, Erik Mayer.Background: Digital maturity is the extent to which digital technologies are used as enablers to deliver a high-quality health service. Extensive literature exists about how to assess the components of digital maturity, but it has not been used to design a comprehensive framework for evaluation. Consequently, the measurement systems that do exist are limited to evaluating digital programs within one service or care setting, meaning that digital maturity evaluation is not accounting for the needs of patients across their care pathways. Objective: The objective of our study was to identify the best methods and metrics for evaluating digital maturity and to create a novel, evidence-based tool for evaluating digital maturity across patient care pathways. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature to find the best methods and metrics for evaluating digital maturity. We searched the PubMed database for all papers relevant to digital maturity evaluation. Papers were selected if they provided insight into how to appraise digital systems within the health service and if they indicated the factors that constitute or facilitate digital maturity. Papers were analyzed to identify methodology for evaluating digital maturity and indicators of digitally mature systems. We then used the resulting information about methodology to design an evaluation framework. Following that, the indicators of digital maturity were extracted and grouped into increasing levels of maturity and operationalized as metrics within the evaluation framework. Results: We identified 28 papers as relevant to evaluating digital maturity, from which we derived 5 themes. The first theme concerned general evaluation methodology for constructing the framework (7 papers). The following 4 themes were the increasing levels of digital maturity: resources and ability (6 papers), usage (7 papers), interoperability (3 papers), and impact (5 papers). The framework includes metrics for each of these levels at each stage of the typical patient care pathway. Conclusions: The framework uses a patient-centric model that departs from traditional service-specific measurements and allows for novel insights into how digital programs benefit patients across the health system

Introducing the Unified Modeling Language into the Information Systems Curriculum

The Information Systems undergraduate program at Cleveland State University (CSU) has adopted the Unified Modeling Language (UML) as the tool for defining a system model through out the development process. This paper discusses the revised CSU curriculum, the use of UML as a common tool to unify several aspects of system development and implementation, and the way in which this approach replaces traditional software development tools. In general, the current CSU curriculum matches the IS 2002 curriculum model in which the implementation of database systems is a continuation of the analysis and logical design course. At CSU, to simplify course scheduling issues, students may take either course first or both at the same time, compromising the IS 2002 suggested prerequisite structure. Our teaching approach to this academic scenario is presented, as is our teaching methodology. Several examples are shown, including the use of tools such as Rational Rose, MS-Access, and Oracle

Sistem Informasi Penentuan Jurusan di SMA Negeri 1 Tuntang menggunakan metode AHP

Educational institutions is one element that has an important role in improving the quality of human resources and a good quality , this needs to be supported by the facility - a facility that can meet the need for education . SMA has administrative activities concerned with student data , teacher data , the data subject , the data of the students , archiving incoming value of teachers , organizing school activities and student learning outcomes data processing in the form of report cards . Information on administrative activities necessary to determine the level of academic success of student learning activities . Student academic outcomes information processing that goes on this time of SMA Negeri 1 Tuntang still use conventional information processing systems, or in other words are still manual. Multiuser Development Application was built using Visual Basic 6.0 application as the system interface . Processing in this database using Microsoft Access , the software uses the Windows XP operating system that has been familiar in the SMA 1 Tuntang , while the application is used to create reports Crystal report. The methodology used in the development of the system is the paradigm of analysis hierarchy process ( AHP ) using the tool Data Flow Diagrams ( DFD ) . Database design tool using a model of the relationship with the Entity - Relationship Diagram ( ER Diagram ) . With the prediction majors in SMA 1 Tuntang the school and students will find it helpful in finding information majors