40 research outputs found
AS-943-22 Resolution on the Creation of a School of Applied Computing
No full textAdopts the mission, vision, and structure of the School of Applied Computing contained in the attachment to this resolution, and approves the creation of the School of Applied Computing
A grid computing framework for commercial simulation packages
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.An increased need for collaborative research among different organizations, together with continuing advances in communication technology and computer hardware, has facilitated the development of distributed systems that can provide users non-trivial access to geographically dispersed computing resources (processors, storage, applications, data, instruments, etc.) that are administered in multiple computer domains. The term grid computing or grids is popularly used to refer to such distributed systems. A broader definition of grid computing includes the use of computing resources within an organization for running organization-specific applications. This research is in the context of using grid computing within an enterprise to maximize the use of available hardware and software resources for processing enterprise applications. Large scale scientific simulations have traditionally been the primary benefactor of grid computing. The application of this technology to simulation in industry has, however, been negligible. This research investigates how grid technology can be effectively exploited by simulation practitioners using Windows-based commercially available simulation packages to model simulations in industry. These packages are commonly referred to as Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Simulation Packages (CSPs). The study identifies several higher level grid services that could be potentially used to support the practise of simulation in industry. It proposes a grid computing framework to investigate these services in the context of CSP-based simulations. This framework is called the CSP-Grid Computing (CSP-GC) Framework. Each identified higher level grid service in this framework is referred to as a CSP-specific service. A total of six case studies are presented to experimentally evaluate how grid computing technologies can be used together with unmodified simulation packages to support some of the CSP-specific services. The contribution of this thesis is the CSP-GC framework that identifies how simulation practise in industry may benefit from the use of grid technology. A further contribution is the recognition of specific grid computing software (grid middleware) that can possibly be used together with existing CSPs to provide grid support. With its focus on end-users and end-user tools, it is intended that this research will encourage wider adoption of grid computing in the workplace and that simulation users will derive benefit from using this technology
The Semantic Grid: Past, Present and Future
No full textGrid computing offers significant enhancements to our capabilities for computation, information processing and collaboration, and has exciting ambitions in many fields of endeavour. In this paper we argue that the full richness of the Grid vision, with its application in e-Science, e-Research or e-Business, requires the ‘Semantic Grid’. The Semantic Grid is an extension of the current Grid in which information and services are given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation. To this end, we outline the requirements of the Semantic Grid, discuss the state of the art in achieving them, and identify the key research challenges in realising this vision
Investigating reengineering teams in the context of business process change
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University, 27/06/2000.This research is concerned with investigating reengineering teams in the context of business process change, or more widely known, business process reengineering (BPR). Business Process Change, on the one hand, is still considered as being an approach that is required in recent times. Reengineering teams (teams that are involved with the planning, analysis and design of the approach) on the other hand, have been viewed to be essential for the development and implementation of BPR. Bearing these points in mind, it was discovered that although the reengineering teams area warrants attention, there has been little attention paid to it.
In the reengineering area, specifically, this research aims to address two main issues: first, the role of reengineering teams in business process change and second, the human and organisational aspects that surround the teams. For this, the research applied several steps and they are described in the following paragraphs.
To discover the role of the reengineering teams in the context of business process change, it was initially assumed that the foundations of the BPR lie in organisational change. Using this assumption, it became simpler and clearer to determine the exact role of teams. With regards to the human and organisational aspects, a strategy unique to the topic was adopted. At the outset, some human and organisational aspects that are more commonly found in the organisational behaviour and psychology areas were revealed and research with regards to these particular aspects was described.
Whilst that was the theoretical side of the research, the research then had to determine whether the deductions formed from the theoretical side were evident in practice. For the empirical results, the research used a combination of approaches in order to obtain the desired results. A qualitative approach that has its foundations in Interpretivism was the methodology used in the research. The ontology assumed then that subjective meanings could be assumed to reconstruct reality. Evidence from practice was obtained using initially, two pilot studies. Further, a multiple case study strategy and the research techniques of mainly, interviews and referring to archival documents were utilised.
Once the data was analysed, a theory that could be used for future research in the reengineering teams area was developed. This was arrived at using a combination of certain grounded theory techniques, particularly, the forming of categories and coding. The findings suggested that reengineering teams are imperative for BPR and that some of the selected human and organisational aspects are evident in the newly formed theory
Panel on future challenges in modeling methodology
No full textThis panel paper presents the views of six researchers and practitioners of simulation modeling. Collectively we attempt to address a range of key future challenges to modeling methodology. It is hoped that the views of this paper, and the presentations made by the panelists at the 2004 Winter Simulation Conference will raise awareness and stimulate further discussion on the future of modeling methodology in areas such as modeling problems in business applications, human factors and geographically dispersed networks; rapid model development and maintenance; legacy modeling approaches; markup languages; virtual interactive process design and simulation; standards; and Grid computing
Estimating adjusted prevalence ratio in clustered cross-sectional epidemiological data.
No full textBACKGROUND: Many epidemiologic studies report the odds ratio as a measure of association for cross-sectional studies with common outcomes. In such cases, the prevalence ratios may not be inferred from the estimated odds ratios. This paper overviews the most commonly used procedures to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios and extends the discussion to the analysis of clustered cross-sectional studies. METHODS: Prevalence ratios(PR) were estimated using logistic models with random effects. Their 95% confidence intervals were obtained using delta method and clustered bootstrap. The performance of these approaches was evaluated through simulation studies. Using data from two studies with health-related outcomes in children, we discuss the interpretation of the measures of association and their implications. RESULTS: The results from data analysis highlighted major differences between estimated OR and PR. Results from simulation studies indicate an improved performance of delta method compared to bootstrap when there are small number of clusters. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of logistic model with random effects for analysis of clustered data. The choice of method to estimate confidence intervals for PR (delta or bootstrap method) should be based on study design
HLA high performance and real-time simulation studies with CERTI
No full textOur work takes place in the context of the HLA standard and its application in real-time systems context. Indeed, current HLA standard is inadequate for taking into consideration the different constraints involved in real-time computer systems. Many works have been invested in order to provide real-time capabilities to Run Time Infrastructures (RTI). This paper describes our approach focusing on achieving hard real-time properties for HLA federations through a complete state of the art on the related domain. Our paper also proposes a global bottom up approach from basic hardware and software basic requirements to experimental tests for validation of
distributed real-time simulation with CERTI
HLA-CSPIF panel on commercial off-the-shelf distributed simulation
No full textCommercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) simulation packages are widely used in many areas of industry. Several research groups are attempting to integrate distributed simulation principles and techniques with these packages to potentially give us COTS distributed simulation. The High Level Architecture-COTS Simulation Package Interoperation Forum (HLA-CSPIF) is a group of researchers and practitioners that are studying methodological and technological issues in this area. This panel paper presents the views of four members of this forum on the technical problems that must be overcome for this emerging field to be realized
Um sistema de avaliação de produtividade em assentamentos rurais utilizando lógica fuzzy
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Computação.O processo de avaliação de assentamentos rurais é visto pelo Instituto de Colonização e Reforma Agrária, INCRA, como instrumento essencial à garantia da qualidade dos serviços oferecidos aos assentamentos, além de, possuir peso decisivo, na metodologia dos processos de assistência técnica empregados. Em contrapartida, a avaliação atualmente efetuada pelo INCRA é baseada no emprego de consultores externos, o que, apesar de seus méritos, apresenta algumas desvantagens: despende um tempo considerável no processo e consome recursos financeiros da instituição. Visando otimizar o processo de avaliação de assentamentos rurais promovido pelo INCRA de forma a torná-lo instrumento norteador de ações, é apresentado uma proposta de um sistema computacional, baseado no trabalho de LOPES et al. (1996), que emprega análise envoltória de dados- DEA e lógica difusa no processo de avaliação
Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?
No full textHow do we consider problems and models in the practice of simulation? It is our possibly contentious observation that simulation model solving seems to be more critical to the mission of simulation modeling than problem solving. Inspired by the theme of this year's Winter Simulation Conference, we ask the question, "Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?" To investigate this we look at three perspectives, those of the textbook, the article and the editorial. The textbook perspective is the balance of the "traditional" view of simulation presented by the academic textbook against practical experience. The article perspective is a classification of papers published in four leading simulation journals in the year 2004 (ACM TOMACS, SIMULATION, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, and Simulation & Gaming). The editorial perspective is a discussion of editorial policy presented by the same journals. Our findings show that our observation is not contradicted
