14,566 research outputs found
A requirements engineering framework for integrated systems development for the construction industry
Computer Integrated Construction (CIC) systems are computer environments through which
collaborative working can be undertaken. Although many CIC systems have been developed to demonstrate the
communication and collaboration within the construction projects, the uptake of CICs by the industry is still
inadequate. This is mainly due to the fact that research methodologies of the CIC development projects are
incomplete to bridge the technology transfer gap. Therefore, defining comprehensive methodologies for the
development of these systems and their effective implementation on real construction projects is vital.
Requirements Engineering (RE) can contribute to the effective uptake of these systems because it drives the
systems development for the targeted audience. This paper proposes a requirements engineering approach for
industry driven CIC systems development. While some CIC systems are investigated to build a broad and deep
contextual knowledge in the area, the EU funded research project, DIVERCITY (Distributed Virtual Workspace
for Enhancing Communication within the Construction Industry), is analysed as the main case study project
because its requirements engineering approach has the potential to determine a framework for the adaptation of
requirements engineering in order to contribute towards the uptake of CIC systems
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Process Planning to Build Mask Projection Stereolithography Parts with Accurate Vertical Dimensions
Mask Projection Stereolithography (MPSLA) is a high resolution manufacturing process
that builds parts layer by layer in a photopolymer. In this paper, we formulate a process planning
method to cure MPSLA parts with accurate vertical dimensions. To this effect, we have
formulated and validated the âLayer cureâ model that models the thickness of a cured layer as a
transient phenomenon, in which, the thickness of the layer being cured increases continuously
throughout the duration of exposure. We have shown that for longer durations of exposures, such
as those common with MPSLA systems, cure depth varies linearly with exposure. We have also
quantified the effect of diffusion of radicals on the cure depth when discrete exposure doses, as
opposed to a single continuous exposure dose, are used to cure layers.
Using this work, we have formulated and validated the âPrint throughâ model that
computes the extra curing that would occur when multiple layers are cured over each other.
We have implemented the Print through model to simulate the profile of a down facing surface
of a test part and validated the simulation result by building the test part on our MPSLA system.Mechanical Engineerin
An Adaptive Design Methodology for Reduction of Product Development Risk
Embedded systems interaction with environment inherently complicates
understanding of requirements and their correct implementation. However,
product uncertainty is highest during early stages of development. Design
verification is an essential step in the development of any system, especially
for Embedded System. This paper introduces a novel adaptive design methodology,
which incorporates step-wise prototyping and verification. With each adaptive
step product-realization level is enhanced while decreasing the level of
product uncertainty, thereby reducing the overall costs. The back-bone of this
frame-work is the development of Domain Specific Operational (DOP) Model and
the associated Verification Instrumentation for Test and Evaluation, developed
based on the DOP model. Together they generate functionally valid test-sequence
for carrying out prototype evaluation. With the help of a case study 'Multimode
Detection Subsystem' the application of this method is sketched. The design
methodologies can be compared by defining and computing a generic performance
criterion like Average design-cycle Risk. For the case study, by computing
Average design-cycle Risk, it is shown that the adaptive method reduces the
product development risk for a small increase in the total design cycle time.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figure
Controlling services in a mobile context-aware infrastructure
Context-aware application behaviors can be described as logic rules following the Event-Control-Action (ECA) pattern. In this pattern, an Event models an occurrence of interest (e.g., a change in context); Control specifies a condition that must hold prior to the execution of the action; and an Action represents the invocation of arbitrary services. We have defined a Controlling service aiming at facilitating the dynamic configuration of ECA rule specifications by means of a mobile rule engine and a mechanism that distributes context reasoning activities to a network of context processing nodes. In this paper we present a novel context modeling approach that provides application developers and users with more appropriate means to define context information and ECA rules. Our approach makes use of ontologies to model context information and has been developed on top of web services technology
Trade-off analysis and design of a Hydraulic Energy Scavenger
In the last years there has been a growing interest in intelligent, autonomous devices for household applications. In the near future this technology will be part of our society; sensing and actuating will be integrated in the environment of our houses by means of energy scavengers and wireless microsystems. These systems will be capable of monitoring the environment, communicating with people and among each other, actuating and supplying themselves independently. This concept is now possible thanks to the low power consumption of electronic devices and accurate design of energy scavengers to harvest energy from the surrounding environment. In principle, an autonomous device comprises three main subsystems: an energy scavenger, an energy storage unit and an operational stage. The energy scavenger is capable of harvesting very small amounts of energy from the surroundings and converting it into electrical energy. This energy can be stored in a small storage unit like a small battery or capacitor, thus being available as a power supply. The operational stage can perform a variety of tasks depending on the application. Inside its application range, this kind of system presents several advantages with respect to regular devices using external energy supplies. They can be simpler to apply as no external connections are needed; they are environmentally friendly and might be economically advantageous in the long term. Furthermore, their autonomous nature permits the application in locations where the local energy grid is not present and allows them to be âhidden' in the environment, being independent from interaction with humans. In the present paper an energy-harvesting system used to supply a hydraulic control valve of a heating system for a typical residential application is studied. The system converts the kinetic energy from the water flow inside the pipes of the heating system to power the energy scavenger. The harvesting unit is composed of a hydraulic turbine that converts the kinetic energy of the water flow into rotational motion to drive a small electric generator. The design phases comprise a trade-off analysis to define the most suitable hydraulic turbine and electric generator for the energy scavenger, and an optimization of the components to satisfy the systems specification
The pros and cons of using SDL for creation of distributed services
In a competitive market for the creation of complex distributed services, time to market, development cost, maintenance and flexibility are key issues. Optimizing the development process is very much a matter of optimizing the technologies used during service creation. This paper reports on the experience gained in the Service Creation projects SCREEN and TOSCA on use of the language SDL for efficient service creation
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