Factors shaping the evolution of electronic documentation systems

The main goal is to prepare the space station technical and managerial structure for likely changes in the creation, capture, transfer, and utilization of knowledge. By anticipating advances, the design of Space Station Project (SSP) information systems can be tailored to facilitate a progression of increasingly sophisticated strategies as the space station evolves. Future generations of advanced information systems will use increases in power to deliver environmentally meaningful, contextually targeted, interconnected data (knowledge). The concept of a Knowledge Base Management System is emerging when the problem is focused on how information systems can perform such a conversion of raw data. Such a system would include traditional management functions for large space databases. Added artificial intelligence features might encompass co-existing knowledge representation schemes; effective control structures for deductive, plausible, and inductive reasoning; means for knowledge acquisition, refinement, and validation; explanation facilities; and dynamic human intervention. The major areas covered include: alternative knowledge representation approaches; advanced user interface capabilities; computer-supported cooperative work; the evolution of information system hardware; standardization, compatibility, and connectivity; and organizational impacts of information intensive environments

Development of a knowledge-based system for the repair and maintenance of concrete structures

PhD ThesisInformation Technology (IT) can exploit strategic opportunities for new ways of facilitating information and data exchange and the exchange of expert and specialist opinions in any field of engineering. Knowledge-Based Systems are sophisticated computer programs which store expert knowledge on specific subject and are applied to a broad range of engineering problems. Integrated Database applications have facilitated the essential capability of storing data to overcome an increasing information malaise. Integrating these areas of Information Technology (IT) can be used to bring a group of experts in any field of engineering closer together by allowing them to communicate and exchange information and opinions. The central feature of this research study is the integration of these hitherto separate areas of Information Technology (IT). In this thesis an adaptable Graphic User Interface Centred application comprising a Knowledge-Based Expert System (DEMARECEXPERT), a Database Management System (REPCON) and Evaluation program (ECON) alongside visualisation technologies is developed to produce an innovative platform which will facilitate and encourage the development of knowledge in concrete repair. Diagnosis, Evaluation, MAintenance and REpair of Concrete structures (DEMAREQ is a flexible application which can be used in four modes of Education, Diagnostic, Evaluation and Evolution. In the educational mode an inexperienced user can develop a better understanding of the repair of concrete technology by navigating through a database of textual and pictorial data. In the diagnostic mode, pictures and descriptive information taken from the database and performance of the expert system (DEMAREC-EXPERT) are used in a way that makes problem solving and decision making easier. The DEMAREC-EXPERT system is coupled to the REPCON (as an independent database) in order to provide the user with recommendations related to the best course required for maintenance and in the selection of materials and methods for the repair of concrete. In the evaluation mode the conditions observed are described in unambiguous terms that can be used by the user to be able to take engineering and management actions for the repair and maintenance of the structure. In the evolution mode of the application, the nature of distress, repair and maintenance of concrete structures within the extent of the database management system has been assessedT. he new methodology of data/usere valuation could have wider implications in many knowledge rich areas of expertise. The benefit of using REPCON lies in the enhanced levels of confidence which can be attributed to the data and to contribution of that data. Effectively, REPCON is designed to model a true evolution of a field of expertise but allows that expertise to move on in faster and more structured manner. This research has wider implications than within the realm of concrete repair. The methodology described in this thesis is developed to provide tecýnology transfer of information from experts, specialists to other practitioners and vice versa and it provides a common forum for communication and exchange information between them. Indeed, one of the strengths of the system is the way in which it allows the promotion and relegation of knowledge according to the opinion of users of different levels of ability from expert to novice. It creates a flexible environment in which an inexperienced user can develop his knowledge in maintenance and concrete repair structures. It is explained how an expert and a specialist can contribute his experience and knowledge towards improving and evolving the problem solving capability of the application

Content And Multimedia Database Management Systems

A database management system is a general-purpose software system that facilitates the processes of defining, constructing, and manipulating databases for various applications. The main characteristic of the ‘database approach’ is that it increases the value of data by its emphasis on data independence. DBMSs, and in particular those based on the relational data model, have been very successful at the management of administrative data in the business domain. This thesis has investigated data management in multimedia digital libraries, and its implications on the design of database management systems. The main problem of multimedia data management is providing access to the stored objects. The content structure of administrative data is easily represented in alphanumeric values. Thus, database technology has primarily focused on handling the objects’ logical structure. In the case of multimedia data, representation of content is far from trivial though, and not supported by current database management systems

A Technology Proposal for a Management Information System for the Director’s Office, NAL.

This technology proposal attempts in giving a viable solution for a Management Information System (MIS) for the Director's Office. In today's IT scenario, an Organization's success greatly depends on its ability to get accurate and timely data on its operations of varied nature and to manage this data effectively to guide its activities and meet its goals. To cater to the information needs of an Organization or an Office like the Director's Office, information systems are developed and deployed to gather and process data in ways that produce a variety of information to the end-user. MIS can therefore can be defined as an integrated user-machine system for providing information to support operations, management and decision-making functions in an Organization. The system in a nutshell, utilizes computer hardware and software, manual procedures, models for analysis planning, control and decision-making and a database. Using state-of-the-art front-end and back-end web based tools, this technology proposal attempts to provide a single-point Information Management, Information Storage, Information Querying and Information Retrieval interface to the Director and his office for handling all information traffic flow in and out of the Director's Office

Considerations for a design and operations knowledge support system for Space Station Freedom

Engineering and operations of modern engineered systems depend critically upon detailed design and operations knowledge that is accurate and authoritative. A design and operations knowledge support system (DOKSS) is a modern computer-based information system providing knowledge about the creation, evolution, and growth of an engineered system. The purpose of a DOKSS is to provide convenient and effective access to this multifaceted information. The complexity of Space Station Freedom's (SSF's) systems, elements, interfaces, and organizations makes convenient access to design knowledge especially important, when compared to simpler systems. The life cycle length, being 30 or more years, adds a new dimension to space operations, maintenance, and evolution. Provided here is a review and discussion of design knowledge support systems to be delivered and operated as a critical part of the engineered system. A concept of a DOKSS for Space Station Freedom (SSF) is presented. This is followed by a detailed discussion of a DOKSS for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Work Package-2 portions of SSF

Migrating relational data to an OODB: strategies and lessions from a molecular biology experience

Journal ArticleThe growing maturity of OODB technology is causing many enterprises to consider migrating relational databases to OODBs. While data remapping is relatively straightforward, greater challenges lie in economically and non-invasively adapting legacy application software. We report on a genetics laboratory database migration experiment, which was facilitated by both organization of the relational data in object-like form and a C++ framework designed to insulate application code from relational artifacts. To our surprise, the framework failed to encapsulate three subtle aspects of the relational implementation, thereby "contaminating" application code. We describe the underlying issues, and offer cautionary guidance to future migrators

Hyperswitch communication network

The Hyperswitch Communication Network (HCN) is a large scale parallel computer prototype being developed at JPL. Commercial versions of the HCN computer are planned. The HCN computer being designed is a message passing multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) computer, and offers many advantages in price-performance ratio, reliability and availability, and manufacturing over traditional uniprocessors and bus based multiprocessors. The design of the HCN operating system is a uniquely flexible environment that combines both parallel processing and distributed processing. This programming paradigm can achieve a balance among the following competing factors: performance in processing and communications, user friendliness, and fault tolerance. The prototype is being designed to accommodate a maximum of 64 state of the art microprocessors. The HCN is classified as a distributed supercomputer. The HCN system is described, and the performance/cost analysis and other competing factors within the system design are reviewed

BigDimETL with NoSQL Database

In the last decade, we have witnessed an explosion of data volume available on the Web. This is due to the rapid technological advances with the availability of smart devices and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Hence, the concept of Big Data was created to face this constant increase. In this context, many domains should take in consideration this growth of data, especially, the Business Intelligence (BI) domain. Where, it is full of important knowledge that is crucial for effective decision making. However, new problems and challenges have appeared for the Decision Support System that must be addressed. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to adapt Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) processes with Big Data technologies, in order to support decision-making and knowledge discovery. In this paper, we propose a new approach called Big Dimensional ETL (BigDimETL) dealing with ETL development process and taking into account the Multidimensional structure. In addition, in order to accelerate data handling we used the MapReduce paradigm and Hbase as a distributed storage mechanism that provides data warehousing capabilities. Experimental results show that our ETL operation adaptation can perform well especially with Join operation

A Taxonomy of Data Grids for Distributed Data Sharing, Management and Processing

Data Grids have been adopted as the platform for scientific communities that need to share, access, transport, process and manage large data collections distributed worldwide. They combine high-end computing technologies with high-performance networking and wide-area storage management techniques. In this paper, we discuss the key concepts behind Data Grids and compare them with other data sharing and distribution paradigms such as content delivery networks, peer-to-peer networks and distributed databases. We then provide comprehensive taxonomies that cover various aspects of architecture, data transportation, data replication and resource allocation and scheduling. Finally, we map the proposed taxonomy to various Data Grid systems not only to validate the taxonomy but also to identify areas for future exploration. Through this taxonomy, we aim to categorise existing systems to better understand their goals and their methodology. This would help evaluate their applicability for solving similar problems. This taxonomy also provides a "gap analysis" of this area through which researchers can potentially identify new issues for investigation. Finally, we hope that the proposed taxonomy and mapping also helps to provide an easy way for new practitioners to understand this complex area of research.Comment: 46 pages, 16 figures, Technical Repor