Teemu Tommila

OWL based information agent services for process monitoring

To determine the operational situation of a monitored industrial process, an operator needs efficient access to a wide range of information. Measurement data alone does not encapsulate the overall situation, but pieces of information have to be searched from different plant IT systems that unfortunately often have varying interfaces and data formats. Information agent and semantic Web techniques address similar challenges in the context of the Internet by annotating heterogeneous data with formal semantics provided by ontology languages like OWL, and by providing human users with autonomous assistants for information retrieval. This paper presents an agent based concept for process automation that provides operators with easily configured information retrieval and monitoring services, releasing them from tedious data harvesting tasks.

Challenges of requirements engineering — A case study in nuclear energy domain

The successful practices of requirements engineering vary between application domains and are characterized by the nature of the application domain. One relatively peculiar application domain is the nuclear energy domain, which is characterized by the long life cycle of power plant operation and construction project, strict control of safety, and collaboration between several stakeholder groups including various branches of technology. We describe the state of the practice of requirements engineering in the nuclear energy domain in Finland on the basis of a descriptive case study focusing on the safety-related automation systems of the nuclear power plants. The results of the study indicate that explicit requirements engineering practices are becoming increasingly important due to the increasing complexity of the technology used, retirement of the older generation of experts, and construction of new power plants along with renewal of the existing nuclear power plants. The challenges of requirements engineering are especially within efficient communication and management of requirements. We highlight challenges that are emphasized by the characteristics of the nuclear energy domain but also discuss the more generic nature of these challenges. The identified challenges are in authority requirements, aging, communication, knowledge transfer, representation of requirements, and tool support.

Structured natural language requirements in nuclear energy domain towards improving regulatory guidelines

Requirements of a system are gathered from various stakeholders, but especially in safety critical application domains, such as the nuclear energy domain, public authorities also impose requirements. Major parts of requirements are often written in natural language. Despite being widely applied and a convenient means, natural language requirements have deficiencies such as impreciseness and vagueness. One approach to improve especially existing requirements is to rewrite the requirements applying structured natural language templates such as Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax (EARS). In this paper, we describe results of an initial quasi-experimental study of applying EARS to nuclear energy domain requirements. The initial results were assessed by stakeholders from public authorities and power companies, and show improvement and utility of applying EARS. Finally, we describe our planned future work to apply EARS to parts of Finnish public authority guidelines for nuclear safety (YVL), which are currently undergoing major rework.

Proactive Computing in Process Monitoring: Information Agents for Operator Support

While automation systems can track thousands of measurements it is still up to human process operators to determine the operational situation of the controlled process, particularly in abnormal situations. To fully exploit the computing power of embedded processors and to release humans from simple data harvesting activities, the concept of proactive computing tries to exploit the strengths of both man and machine. Proactive features can be implemented using intelligent agent technology, enabling humans to move from simple interaction with computers into supervisory tasks. Autonomous information agents can handle massive amounts of heterogeneous data. They perform tedious tasks of information retrieving, combining and monitoring on the behalf of their users. This paper presents a multi-agent-based architecture for process automation, which aims to support process operators in their monitoring activities. The approach is tested with a scenario inspired by a real-world industrial challenge.

A fuzzy ontology based approach for mobilising industrial plant knowledge

Semantic Web technologies - ontologies in particular - aim at efficient access to heterogeneous, distributed knowledge. However, current ontology languages such as OWL cannot properly address uncertainties, inconsistencies or contradictions. Fuzzy ontologies have been proposed to fix these shortcomings and further enhance information retrieval. The domain of industrial process plants faces many knowledge management challenges. Knowledge in e.g. the form of written reports is stored in different systems, but retrieval is often ineffective and reuse therefore limited. This paper presents an attempt at applying a fuzzy ontology for searching reports of past situations of interest at a process plant. The aim has been to get richer search results from a knowledge base by extending the query with fuzzy neighbour concepts.

Distributed Batch Process Management Framework Based on Design Patterns and Software Components

Abstract Requirements for product quality and the increased number of complex speciality products as well as flexibility requirements for the usage of production equipment have emphasised the benefits of discontinuous batch production in process industries. Even if batch control has for a long time been a challenge to control engineers, emerging standards and software component technologies have now enabled them to design novel automation concepts. VTT Automation is developing a new software component-based framework for batch process management. In the experimental domain specific framework, the new batch control standard, experience with object-oriented design pattern based approach, and distributed software component technology is integrated.

A CORE TASK ANALYSIS BASED WORK SUPPORT AND TRAINING TOOL FOR CONTROL ENGINEERS

Abstract This paper presents a study in which a concept of a work support and training tool for control engineers was developed. The aim of the tool is to provide control engineers means for developing professional skills and to promote collaboration and sharing of knowledge among the community of engineers. First, an interview study was conducted to gain understanding of the characteristics and demands of control engineering work. After identifying user requirements the concept of the tool was defined. Finally, a prototype was implemented using web technologies and emerging standards of computer supported learning.

Implementing a Work Support and Training Tool for Control Engineers

This paper presents a prototype of a work support and training tool for control engineers (Autaki). The concept for the work support tool and the prototype of the tool are results of a study in which the core task and competence development of control engineers were analyzed. Novel techniques and modern design methods were used in the development of the Autaki application. For example, the architecture of the application is based on SOA (service oriented architecture) which makes it flexible and accessible. Also generally accepted reference models, such as SCORM (sharable content object reference model) and IMS LOM (IMS learning object metadata), were used when structuring the content of the application. AJAX (asynchronous Java script and XML) techniques, on the other hand, were utilized for making the user interface more interactive and comfortable.

Open Service Architectures for Environmental Monitoring and Industrial Automation

Abstract This paper discusses globally distributed telematics applications in the environmental monitoring and industrial automation application areas. The requirements on the necessary distributed computing infrastructure are described. Based on these requirements, the usefulness of component-based software architectures and open service architectures is discussed, and the applicability of the Open ServicesGateway initiative (OSGi) in these applications is evaluated.

INTEGRATED INFORMATION MODEL FOR PROCESS CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract A systematic framework for modeling process management and process control is needed to facilitate communication, management and reuse of the knowledge gained during the different phases of the plant life cycle. The integrated information model defines concepts by which the process goals can be transformed into a systematic description of process control system functions. It enables also design automation to some parts of the design process. The information model has been defined in accordance with the application protocol specifications of the STEP standardization activities.