Using similarity of graphs in evaluation of designs

This paper deals with evaluating design on the basis of their internal structures in the form of graphs. A set containing graphs representing solutions of similar design tasks is used to search for frequently occurring subgraphs. On the basis of the results of the search the quality of new solutions is evaluated. Moreover the common subgraphs found are considered to be design patterns characterizing a given design task solutions. The paper presents the generic concept of such an approach as well as illustrates it by the small example of floor layout design

A multi-agent system in education facility design

This paper deals with a multi-agent system which supports the designer in solving complex design tasks. The behaviour of design agents is modelled by sets of grammar rules. Each agent uses a graph grammar or a shape grammar and a database of facts concerning the subtask it is responsible for. The course of the design process is determined by the interaction between specialised agents. Space layouts of designs are represented by attributed graphs encoding both topological structures and semantic properties of solutions. The agents work in parallel on the common graph, independently generating layouts of different design components while specified node labels evoke agents using shape grammars. The agents’ cooperation allows them to combine a form-oriented approach with a functional-structural one in the design process, where the agents generate the general 3D form of the object based on design requirements together with the space layout based on the functional aspects of the solution. Based on the given design criteria, the agents search for admissible solutions within the design space that constitutes their operating environment. The proposed approach is illustrated by the example of designing kindergarten facilities

How validation can help in testing business processes orchestrating web services

Validation and testing are important in developing correct and fault free SOA-basedsystems. BPEL is a high level language that makes it possible to implement business processes asan orchestration of web services. In general, the testing requires much more test scenarios than thevalidation. However, in the case of BPEL processes, which have very simple and well structuredimplementation, test scenarios limited to the validation may also be efficient. The paper describes anexperiment that aims at answering a question whether or not the validation test scenarios are alsoadequate for testing an implementation of BPEL processes. The experiment employs a Software FaultInjector for BPEL Processes that is able to inject faults when the test scenarios are running. Theresults of the experiment seem very promising. Hence, it seems that validation tests might give astrong support for testing

Parameterized IFC-based graph generation for user-oriented path search

This paper deals with the problem of transforming the data obtained from the IFC file of a given building into a weighted graph, which is used for searching shortest routes accessible for different types of users including people and mobile objects. This graph contains information about the topology and accessibility between building spaces. It is created using the parameter specifying the permissible distance from the center of a moving object to a wall. Edge weights are calculated based on the Euclidean distance between nodes representing doors or internal points of rooms with concave shapes. On the basis of information encoded in the graph the application calculates the shortest path between designated rooms and creates its visualization. The presented approach is illustrated on examples of searching shortest routs between spaces of the building extracted from the IFC file belonging to the free IFC model database

Validation of reactive embedded systems against specification requirements

In this paper a method of automatic generation of test scenarios for verification of specification requirements (temporal and functional) for reactive embedded systems is presented

Process-related characteristic–based topography evaluation of wear conditions on grinding wheels

Non-productive auxiliary processes affect the single part and small badge production of milling tools. The key production process grinding is inevitably linked to the auxiliary conditioning process. The time demand of those process steps decreases the overall productivity of the manufacturing process. However, today the machine operator decides on conditioning cycles individually by the use of experience. Until today, there is no objective data based approach available that supports the initiation of these conditioning processes or the adaption of the grinding process itself in order to improve its process efficiency. For this purpose, a process-related topography evaluation method of the grinding wheel surface is developed within this study. For the measurement, an optical method based on laser triangulation is used. The measurement system is implemented into a common tool grinding machine tool. In addition, characteristic topography values are defined that show the wear conditions of the grinding tool. Moreover, the data is summarized in a database of wear conditions. The developed measurement method can save grinding and dressing tool resources, process times and minimizes scrap parts. In addition, an adaptation of the process and a targeted launch of auxiliary processes can be enabled. The novel characteristic-based topography measurement creates the opportunity to enhance the tool life of the grinding wheels up to 30% without losing productivity