Informational and Electrical Technologies: Transforming ag and bio engineering

According to the Computing Research Association, Information technology has amplified our intellectual and physical abilities more than anything since the development of the written word ... We are hard-pressed to think of change of comparable magnitude in human history. While you may argue that other historical advances, such as the development and mechanization of agriculture, rival the advances currently seen in information and electrical technology IET), you cannot deny the effects that these ongoing technological developments are having on our lives today

A Version-based Approach to Address Flexibility of BPMN Collaborations and Choreographies

Process flexibility is an important issue in the business process management area: it has mainly been investigated in the context of intra-organisational processes but it received little attention in the context of processes crossing the boundaries of companies. This paper addresses the issue of BPMN collaborations and choreographies flexibility, advocating a version-based approach. Indeed versions, which have been recognised as a powerful mechanism to face flexibility of internal processes of companies, are used to address flexibility of processes crossing the boundaries of companies, modelled as collaborations or choreographies in BPMN. Thus this paper extends BPMN collaborations using versions. It also introduces algorithms supporting the mapping from versions of collaborations into versions of choreographies. This paper mainly focuses on static aspects of collaboration and choreography versioning

Structural health monitoring of bridges for improving transportation security

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a promising technology for determining the condition of significant transportation structures objectively for efficient management and preservation of transportation assets. In addition to identifying, locating, and quantifying damage and deterioration due to effects of operation, aging, and natural hazards, the need for taking terrorism-related hazards into account has become evident after 9/11 terrorist attacks. Key transportation facilities like major bridges were identified by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as possible terrorist targets since their loss or even temporary deficiency could lead to major impacts on economy and mobility. Several governmental, local, and private organizations have been working on identifying possible modes of threats, determining and sorting vulnerable structures, and establishing ways to prevent, detect and respond to such attacks. Authorities are also investigating ways to integrate current and future bridge management systems with security surveillance systems. Highway bridges are key links of the transportation system. This paper reviews security measures for bridges and discuss possible integration of structural health and security monitoring for improving security and safety of bridges and emergency management after a natural or man-made disaster

Addressing inter-organisational process flexibility using versions: The VP2M approach

Process flexibility has been investigated in depth in the context of intra-organisational processes, but it is still an open issue when processes cross the boundaries of companies. In this paper, we address the modelling of flexible inter-organisational processes using a version-based approach. Indeed, versions are known to be a powerful technique to deal with variability, evolution and adaptation of processes, which are the three main needs of process flexibility. More precisely, this paper presents VP2M (Version of Process Meta-Model), a meta-model supporting the modelling of versions of inter-organisational processes, addressing both static and dynamic aspects of VP2M. It also illustrates process version modelling within the Subsea Pipeline process example

Addressing inter-organisational process flexibility using versions: The VP2M approach

Process flexibility has been investigated in depth in the context of intra-organisational processes, but it is still an open issue when processes cross the boundaries of companies. In this paper, we address the modelling of flexible inter-organisational processes using a version-based approach. Indeed, versions are known to be a powerful technique to deal with variability, evolution and adaptation of processes, which are the three main needs of process flexibility. More precisely, this paper presents VP2M (Version of Process Meta-Model), a meta-model supporting the modelling of versions of inter-organisational processes, addressing both static and dynamic aspects of VP2M. It also illustrates process version modelling within the Subsea Pipeline process example

A pattern-based method for building requirements documents in call-for-tender processes

This paper presents our PABRE method for facilitating Requirements Elicitation on the basis of Requirement Patterns with the goal of saving time and reducing errors during this activity. The process presented applies for elicitation in Off-The-Shelf selection projects driven by call-for-tender processes and uses a Requirement Patterns Catalogue. The process selects patterns from the catalogue that apply to the particular selection project, and convert them into the real requirements that finally configure the project Requirements Document. We show some benefits of the pattern approach for requirements engineers and IT consultants, as well as for customers. Finally we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal and identify some future work.Postprint (published version