A framework for cots software evaluation and selection for COTS mismatches handling and non-functional requirements

The decision to purchase Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software needs systematic guidelines so that the appropriate COTS software can be selected in order to provide a viable and effective solution to the organizations. However, the existing COTS software evaluation and selection frameworks focus more on functional aspects and do not give adequate attention to accommodate the mismatch between user requirements and COTS software specification, and also integration with non functional requirements of COTS software. Studies have identified that these two criteria are important in COTS software evaluation and selection. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new framework of COTS software evaluation and selection that focuses on handling COTS software mismatches and integrating the nonfunctional requirements. The study is conducted using mixed-mode methodology which involves survey and interview. The study is conducted in four main phases: a survey and interview of 63 organizations to identify COTS software evaluation criteria, development of COTS software evaluation and selection framework using Evaluation Theory, development of a new decision making technique by integrating Analytical Hierarchy Process and Gap Analysis to handle COTS software mismatches, and validation of the practicality and reliability of the proposed COTS software Evaluation and Selection Framework (COTS-ESF) using experts’ review, case studies and yardstick validation. This study has developed the COTS-ESF which consists of five categories of evaluation criteria: Quality, Domain, Architecture, Operational Environment and Vendor Reputation. It also provides a decision making technique and a complete process for performing the evaluation and selection of COTS software. The result of this study shows that the evaluated aspects of the framework are feasible and demonstrate their potential and practicality to be applied in the real environment. The contribution of this study straddles both the research and practical perspectives of software evaluation by improving decision making and providing a systematic guidelines for handling issue in purchasing viable COTS software

Integrated fossil fuel and solar thermal systems for hydrogen production and CO2 mitigation

In most current fossil-based hydrogen production methods, the thermal energy required by the endothermic processes of hydrogen production cycles is supplied by the combustion of a portion of the same fossil fuel feedstock. This increases the fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper analyzes the thermodynamics of several typical fossil fuel-based hydrogen production methods such as steam methane reforming, coal gasification, methane dissociation, and off-gas reforming, to quantify the potential savings of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions associated with the thermal energy requirement. Then matching the heat quality and quantity by solar thermal energy for different processes is examined. It is concluded that steam generation and superheating by solar energy for the supply of gaseous reactants to the hydrogen production cycles is particularly attractive due to the engineering maturity and simplicity. It is also concluded that steam-methane reforming may have fewer engineering challenges because of its single-phase reaction, if the endothermic reaction enthalpy of syngas production step (CO and H2) of coal gasification and steam methane reforming is provided by solar thermal energy. Various solar thermal energy based reactors are discussed for different types of production cycles as well

A Quality of Service Based Model for Supporting Mobile Secondary Users in Cognitive Radio Technology

Current wireless networks are characterized by a static spectrum allocation policy, where governmental agencies assign wireless spectrum to license holders on a long-term basis for large geographical regions. The operators claim that the spectrum bands for mobile operation are highly occupied. Even then, a significant amount of licensed spectrum remains underutilized. Cognitive radio senses the radio environment with a twofold objective: identify those subbands of the radio spectrum that are underutilized by the primary (i.e., legacy) users and providing the means for making those bands available for employment by secondary (i.e., unlicensed) users. For unlicensed communication, the Quality of Service parameters need to be considered. Quality of Service comprises of channel availability, accessibility, and maintainability. Assessment of vacant channels of licensed band in a geographical region is termed as availability. An analysis of the collected data lead to arrive at the conclusion that more than one-eighth part of resources of each band are nearly permanently vacant, which is enough to design in-band common control signaling methods for cognitive radio. Measurement result plot of vacant channels in cities with known population will help to assess availability of vacant channels for any city and hence, measurement complexity can be avoided. The strategy to occupy the vacant channels without disturbing the primary user operation is referred as accessibility (or selection). Accessibility of a channel is dependent on blocking probability (or Quality of Service) measured in duration of minutes instead of hours. Instantaneous blocking probability has been calculated based on current minute occupancy for all available channels as reference. A comprehensive prediction model is employed in the proposed work to compute the instantaneous blocking probability both on immediate minute occupancy basis and its preceding 60 min basis from time of request by SU. Validation through actual data establishes that channelized blocking probability estimation model has lower error value compared to estimation through prediction models of other researchers. It was also observed that hourly basis prediction model has constant blocking probability value during clock hour, whereas minutewise Grade of Service (GoS) prediction model addresses the local peak demand and hence leads to a stringent GoS estimation. On secondary user request for vacant channel, the cognitive radio network needs to evaluate the expected holding time of the particular Secondary User and to ensure channel maintainability (or allocation), and it shall predict that the allotted channel shall be able to provide interruption-free service for holding time duration. Minutewise channel occupancy traffic is bumpy in nature; hence, the present work predicts call arrival rate using Holt Winter’s method. Also, at the instant of SU channel request, the channel allocation processor inputs all PU channel status minutewise, calculates actual mean residual lifetime (MRL) in minutes for each vacant channel and selects the channel with highest predicted free time. A simulation program runs on data collected from mobile switch of cellular network, which creates pseudo-live environment for channel allocation. The present work has compared the mean residual lifetime (MRL) method with the other researchers using probabilistic method of channel allocation and MRL method has been established as more accurate. The selection and allocation process with defined blocking probability model has been verified retrieving big data from data warehouse

Characterisation driven processing of Indian sub-marginal grade of iron ore for value addition

Iron ore resource has its own typical mineral characteristics which require definite beneficiation process to produce quality raw material. India is endowed with large reserves of high grade hematite ore. However, steady consumption of these iron ores is now a concern forcing to develop beneficiation strategies to utilize low grade iron ores. Characterization has become an integral part of mineral processing and beneficiation depends on the nature of the gangue present and its association with the ore. Different characterization aspects like mineralogy, textural relationship, liberation size, chemical analysis and grain size analysis were studied to develop the beneficiation scheme. As reflected in the National Steel Policy, the life of high grade lumpy ore as on April 2010 will be ten more years. In order to ensure longer period of ore availability, it is important to use low grade Banded Hematite Quartzite (BHQ) & Banded Hematite Jasper (BHJ) iron ores after beneficiation. Looking at the present scenario, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has slashed the threshold value of Fe in hematite to 45% from 55 % (t). According to National mineral policy projections, exploitation of the low grade iron ore horizons is necessary to achieve zero waste mining. BHJ assaying up to 40% Fe (T) had upgraded above 60% Fe (T) to use effectively. Technically it is possible to enhance the quality of low grade as well as BHQ/ BHJ ironores to an acceptable grade using various techniques like Flotation, Enhanced gravity separation, WHIMS etc. In India, iron ores are generally washed to remove the high alumina containing clayey matter. Conventionally, after washing, the lumps are directly fed to blast furnace and the fines are used after agglomerating them into sinter. However, the slimes are being rejected in the tailing ponds. These slimes in most cases contain substantial iron values in the range of 54– 58% Fe. Therefore, it is imperative to recover iron values from these slimes because of high demand on the good grade iron ores day-by-day

Residue-Correction-Based Data Assimilation In Coastal Hydrodynamics (With An Application To Singapore Regional Model)

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH