Computer Sciences Commons^™

Exploiting High Performance Fortran For Computational Fluid Dynamics, Volume 919, Ken Hawick, Geoffrey C. Fox

Northeast Parallel Architecture Center

We discuss the High Performance Fortran data parallel programming language as an aid to software engineering and as a tool for exploiting High Performance Computing systems for computational uid dynamics applications. We discuss the use of intrinsic functions, data distribution directives and explicitly parallel constructs to optimize performance by minimizing communications requirements in a portable manner. In particular we use an implicit method such as the ADI algorithm to illustrate the major issues. We focus on regular mesh problems, since these can be efficiently represented by the existing HPF definition, but also discuss issues arising from the use of irregular …

Critical Success Factors For Organizational Case Success, Chad Strauss

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Practitioners and researchers have suggested that Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) technology can significantly improve the productivity of systems analysts and the quality of systems development. Before CASE can succeed, however, specific components must exist. This paper explores CASE and the components necessary for its widespread acceptance and use within information systems departments. Specifically, this paper will examine the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the possible benefits of CASE, the current state of CASE, critical success factors for CASE, and finally CASE use.

Software Reliability Issues: An Experimental Approach, Mary Ann Hoppa

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we present methodologies involving a data structure called the debugging graph whereby the predictive performance of software reliability models can be analyzed and improved under laboratory conditions. This procedure substitutes the averages of large sample sets for the single point samples normally used as inputs to these models and thus supports scrutiny of their performances with less random input data.

Initially, we describe the construction of an extensive database of empirical reliability data which we derived by testing each partially debugged version of subject software represented by complete or partial debugging graphs. We demonstrate how these data …

A Proposal For A Development Platform For Microcontroller-Based Devices, Michael L. Wetton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis is concerned with designing, implementing and testing a miniaturised temperature data logging device. Investigations demonstrated that a microcontroller could provide a low-cost single-chip solution to this problem and after a detailed review of 8-bit microcontrollers, the MC68HCll was chosen for this task. This document also includes discussion on an environment that was developed for creating and testing MC68HC11 software and the use of Motorola's evaluation boards. To ensure that the device was designed to software engineering standards an investigation into software engineering analysis techniques took place. This resulted in the Jackson Structured Programming (JSP) methodology being adapted to …

Object Interactions As First Class Objects: From Design To Implementation, Mahesh Dodani, Benjamin Kok Siew Gan, Lizette Velazquez

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Collaborations between objects make up the dynamic behavior of OO software. These collaborations among objects require careful design and implementation. Treating the interactions as responsibilities that are integrated in the participating objects, results in tight coupling between objects. Tight coupling increases complexity and reduces reusability. Object interactions need to be first class objects from design to implementation. Our research provides a unified approach to model and implement these interactions as first class objects. During analysis and design, they are modeled using DynaSpecs. During implementation, they are coded with a new language construct called Compositions. DynaSpecs and Compositions provide a consistent …

Easy-Sim: A Visual Simulation System Software Architecture With An Ada 9x Application Framework, Jordan R. Kayloe

Theses and Dissertations

Software architectures increase productivity when used as the basis for developing applications in a problem domain. This thesis describes the creation of Easy-Sim, an object-oriented software architecture for visual simulation systems, and its corresponding implementation as an application framework in Ada 9X. The research built upon ObjectSim, an existing object-oriented simulation architecture implemented as a application framework. Both ObjectSim and Easy-Sim operate on Silicon Graphics platforms and use the IRIS Performer graphics programming library. Easy-Sim is implemented using version 1.83 of the GNAT compiler. The investigation for this thesis involved honing ObjectSim's design, implementing the improved result in both C++ …

Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation And Head Motion Tracking In A Virtual Environment: An Engineering Approach, James E. Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Software engineering tools and techniques were applied to design and implement an application that reduces lag typically present in virtual environment displays. The application was a Multiple Model Adaptive Estimator (MMAE), composed of three Kalman filters, that predicted head orientation one sample period into the future. The environment rendering software used these predictions to generate the environment display. Each of the filters in the MMAE was designed for a different assumed head motion type (benign, moderate, or heavy), which allowed the MMAE to adapt to changes in head movement characteristics. The use of Ada 9X as an implementation language for …

The Re-Engineering Of The Air Force Institute Of Technology Student Information System, Douglas J. Wu

Theses and Dissertations

This research describes the design and implementation issues associated with re-engineering the Air Force Institute of Technology Student Information System (AFITSIS). Currently, AFITSIS executes on aging relational database technology and has unfriendly user interface mechanisms. The two research objectives met were to research current AFITSIS requirements, design, and implementation, and use object-oriented methods to design an alternative implementation based on proposed object database management system standards. This research explores how AFITSIS performance and capabilities might be enhanced by taking advantage of new object-oriented software engineering techniques. One of the primary benefits of this research is a detailed object modeling technique …

A Comparison Of Error Categorization Schemes For Use In Software System Safety Programs, Richard Escobedo, Jim Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Software safety is becoming increasingly important in the development of DoD advanced weapon systems. To make software safer, hazard conditions must be avoided along with the errors that accompany them. The first step in identifying errors is classifying error data. The area of software error classification is not as advanced as other software development areas. The technical literature lacks examples of comprehensive taxonomies that can be applied to various computer software domains and applications. The predominant approach is to organize errors into categories particular to the program currently in work. The typical error scheme is made of narrow categories that …

Knowledge-Based Safety Training System (Kbsts): A Prototype Implementation, Venky Shankararaman, B. S. Lee

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A computer-based safety training system for process operators must be able to make effective presentation of textual material, test the trainee's understanding through quizzes and facilitate plant simulation. The general framework of such a system is presented in an earlier paper (Computers in Industry, Vol. 17, 1991, pp. 349–358). In this paper, we discuss the development and implementation of a prototype Knowledge-Based Safety Training System based on the framework. The design philosophy, system architecture and the plant modelling methodology are described.

A Correlational Study Of The Sei's Capability Maturity Model And Software Development Performance In Dod Contracts, Robert M. Flowe, James B. Thordahl

Theses and Dissertations

The Software Engineering Institute's (SEl's) Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is to measure an organization's software development process maturity. The Department of Defense (DoD) has model with the belief that a more mature software development process will result in a more successful software subject. Although there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence supporting this presumed correlation, there is empirical evidence. Thus, the goal of our research was to determine the nature of the correlation, if any, :ware process maturity and software project success, where process maturity is based on a CMM rating and success based on the parameters of cost …

Icdm: Integrated Cooperative Decision Making - In Practice, Leonard Myers, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

Multi-agent systems provide an attractive architecture for the implementation of complex systems. Much of the research is focussed on complete automation of the decision making process as a means of duplicating human abilities for working with new problems and environments. There as also a need for systems that employ the human as an agent and rely on human abilities for common sense and deep thought. The CAD Research Center at Cal Poly and CDM Technologies have significant experience in building systems of the latter type that assist human users in solving complex problems in planning, design and economics. This experience …

Design Of An Application Development Toolkit For Hpf/Fortran 90d, Manish Parashar, Salim Hariri, Tomasz Haupt, Geoffrey C. Fox

Northeast Parallel Architecture Center

The development of efficient application software capable of exploiting available High Performance Computing (HPC) systems is non-trivial and is largely governed by the availability of sufficiently high-level languages, tools, and application development environments. In this paper we describe the design and operation of a toolkit for HPF/Fortran 90D application development. The toolkit incorporates the following systems: (1) ESP: An Interpretive Framework for HPF/Fortran 90D Performance Prediction; (2) ESP-i: A HPF/Fortran 90D Functional Interpreter; and (3) ESPial: An Integrated Environment for HPF/Fortran 90D Application Development & Execution. The toolkit has been implemented on the iPSC/860 hypercube system, and is supported by …

A Study Of Software Development For High Performance Computing, Manish Parashar, Salim Hariri, Tomasz Haupt, Geoffrey C. Fox

Northeast Parallel Architecture Center

Software development in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment is non-trivial and requires a thorough understanding of the application and the architecture. The objective of this paper is to study the software development process in a high performance computing environment and to outline the stages typically encountered in this process. Support required at each stage is also highlighted. The modeling of stock option pricing is used as a running example in the study.

Software Metrics For Monitoring Software Engineering Projects, Edwin C. Lim

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

As part of the undergraduate course offered by Edith Cowan University, the Department of Computer Science has (as part of a year's study) a software engineering group project. The structure of this project was divided into two units, Software Engineering l and Software Engineering 2. ln Software Engineering 1, students were given the group project where they had to complete and submit the Functional Requirement and Detail System Design documentation. In Software Engineering 2, students commenced with the implementation of the software, testing and documentation. The software was then submitted for assessment and presented to the client. To aid the …

A Semantic Framework For Understanding The Behavior Of Modules And Classes In Programming Languages, Mahesh Dodani, Benjamin Kok Siew Gan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Recent trends in programming language design and implementation are aimed at integrating the two most important constructs to combat complexity: modules and classes. Both constructs provide encapsulation, a cornerstone of reliable programming. These constructs differ in their approach to building hierarchies: modules define visibility of components while classes define visibility of functionality. How can modules and classes be effectively integrated within a simple programming language? This question captures the essence of developing semantics of these constructs to ensure that they interact in a meaningful way. This paper develops a formal denotational semantic framework for understanding the interaction between classes and …

A Greedy Hypercube-Labeling Algorithm, D. Bhagavathi, C. E. Grosch, S. Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Due to its attractive topological properties, the hypercube multiprocessor has emerged as one of the architectures of choice when it comes to implementing a large number of computational problems. In many such applications, Gray-code labelings of the hypercube are a crucial prerequisite for obtaining efficient algorithms. We propose a greedy algorithm that, given an n-dimensional hypercube H with N=2² nodes, returns a Gray-code labeling of H, that is, a labeling of the nodes with binary strings of length n such that two nodes are neighbors in the hypercube if, and only if, their labels differ in exactly …

Developing A Sophisticated User Interface To Support Domain-Oriented Application Composition And Generation Systems, Jay A. Cossentine

Theses and Dissertations

This research refined the visual presentation and usability of a previously developed visual interface for a domain-oriented application composition and generation system. The refined visual interface incorporated domain-specific bit-mapped graphics and sophisticated user interface design concepts to reduce user workload. User workload was reduced through object layout, window design, and color utilization techniques; by combining repetitive procedures into single commands; and reusing, rather than recreating, composition information throughout the application composition process. The Software Refinery environment, including its graphical interface tool INTERVISTA, was used to develop techniques for visualizing and manipulating objects contained in a formal object base. INTERVISTA was …

Alternative Architectures For Domain-Oriented Application Composition And Generation Systems, Warren E. Gool

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a formalized framework for comparing the structure and semantics of software architectures. The framework uses object diagrams for analyzing the structure of the architectures and the axiomatic approach for analyzing the semantics. This framework is used to compare the Object Connection Update OCU model developed by the Software Engineering Institute against four other software architectures VHDL defined by Lipsett, MetaH defined by Honeywell, microRapide defined by Luckham, and hierarchical software systems as defined by Batory. The goal of the comparison was to evaluate the OCU model for suitability within prototype application composition and generation systems. This research …

A Method For Populating The Knowledge Base Of Afit's Domain-Oriented Application Composition System, Russell M. Warner

Theses and Dissertations

This research developed a formal method for adding new domains to Architect, a domain-oriented application composition system being developed at the Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT to explore new software engineering technologies. Using canonical formal specifications of domain objects, Architect rapidly composes these specifications into a software application and executes a prototype of that application as a means to demonstrate its correctness before any programming language specific code is generated. Architect is implemented in the Software Refinery environment, which allows Architect to create and manipulate object-oriented specifications. As a part of this research effort, domain-oriented application composition systems were …

Development Of Computer Software To Aid Environmental Decision Makers In The Education And Training Of Air Force Remedial Project Managers, Roger R. Ouellette, Bruce K. Lyman

Theses and Dissertations

By the end of Fiscal Year 1991, the Air Force had identified 4,354 contaminated sites. Much like the 177 toxic sites at McClellan AFB, bases across the country and throughput the world are filled with chrome, lead, paint solvents and many other toxics that are rendering water supplies unusable and endangering the health of millions of people living in and around these bases. Air Force officials continue to identify contaminated sites with no end in sight. Since the cleanup of these toxic materials involves diverse, complex activities, the Air Force created the duty position of Remedial Project Manager to manage …

Filtering, Coding, And Compression With Malvar Wavelets, Stephen R. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and evaluates a number of new concepts and tools for the analysis of signals using Malvar wavelets lapped orthogonal transforms . Windowing, often employed as a spectral estimation technique, can result in irreparable distortions in the transformed signal. By utilizing the Malvar wavelet, any signal distortion resulting from the transformation can be eliminated or cancelled during reconstruction. This is accomplished by placing conditions on the window and the basis function and then incorporating the window into the orthonormal representation. Paradigms for both a complex-valued and a real-valued Malvar wavelet are summarized. I-lie algorithms for the wavelets were …

An Analysis Of The Root Causes Of Delays And Deficiencies In The Development Of Embedded Software For Air Force Weapon Systems, Jay R. Hopkins, Curtis De Keyrel

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of embedded software, used in every subsystem of ah major weapon systems used by the United States Air Force, has increased drastically over the last decades. However, in spite of the regulations currently in existence, developing and acquiring software which meets the user requirements within the original cost and schedule estimates continues to be difficult. At the same time, the Air Force has pushed to improve the development process with the Total Quality Management TQM program. The primary method used to improve the process has been to create metrics, collect data on these metrics, and then perform a …

Investigation Into Formalization Of Domain-Oriented Parallel Software Development, Daniel P. King

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the conceptual design of a semi-automated platform for parallel software development. The proposed semi-automated environment applies transformational techniques and domain-specific knowledge to a parallel software development process. Domain-specific and software design knowledge interact within the transformational development process in the creation of a software application. The underlying parallel specification language requires a set of parallel composition operators in order to capture an application’s concurrent properties. A set of parallel composition operators is proposed that consists of parallel composition, parallel enumeration, nondeterministic choice, sequential composition specific communication and synchronization variable types are also proposed. A semi-automated environment based …

Domain Analysis And Modeling Of A Model-Based Software Executive, Robert L. Welgan

Theses and Dissertations

This research was adapted the domain analysis techniques of Prieto- Diaz and Tracz to specify a domain analysis process which was used to conduct domain analysis over the domain of software executives. This analysis created a set of informal and formal domain model artifacts. The domain model artifacts were instantiated into two application executive subsystems. These executive subsystems operated in Architect, a domain-oriented application composition system based on the Object-Connection-Update OCU model. This research demonstrated and evaluated execution of the instantiated executive domain model in a series of event-driven and time-driven applications. As a consequence of developing the application executive …

The Development And Use Of An Evaluation Mechanism For The Assessment Of Software Configuration Management Tools, Wayne M. Descheneau, Neil W. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the development of a mechanism for use in the evaluation of Software Configuration Management SCM tools. An examination of applicable DoD standards identified the SCM requirements that could be levied on a development contractor, and a literature search revealed the functionality common to various automated tools. These two sets of information were organized into a matrix, and for each requirement that was met, the intersection on the matrix of the requirement and each functionality used to meet that requirement was checked. In addition to the matrix, the mechanism consisted of general information about a given tool and …

A Cognitively Motivated System For Software Component Reuse, Michael Joseph Mateas

Dissertations and Theses

Software reuse via component libraries suffers from the twin problems of code location and comprehension. The Intelligent Code Object Planner (ICOP) is a cognitively motivated system that facilitates code reuse by answering queries about how to produce an effect with the library. It can plan for effects which are not primitive with respect to the library by building a plan that incorporates multiple components. The primary subsystems of ICOP are a knowledge base which describes the ontology of the library, a natural language interface which translates user queries into a formal effect language (predicates), a planner which accepts the effect …

Observation Of B0 Decay To Two Charmless Mesons, M. Battle, Manoj Thulasidas

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We report results from a search for the decays B0→π+π-, B0→K+π-, and B0→K+K-. We find 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions, Bππ

Temporal Model Of An Optically Pumped Co-Doped Solid State Laser, T. G. Wangler, J. J. Swetits, A. M. Buoncristiani

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Currently, research is being conducted on the optical properties of materials associated with the development of solid-state lasers in the 2 micron region. In support of this effort, a mathematical model describing the energy transfer in a holmium laser sensitized with thulium is developed. In this paper, we establish some qualitative properties of the solution of the model, such as non-negativity, boundedness, and integrability. A local stability analysis is then performed from which conditions for asymptotic stability are obtained. Finally, we report on our numerical analysis of the system and how it compares with experimental results.

An Investigation Of Methodologies For Software Development Prototyping, Susan M. Jones

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The computer industry has a poor record of system development using the traditional life-cycle approach. The main cause of user dissatisfaction is the unacceptably large amount of time between specification and delivery of a system. In addition, users have limited opportunity to influence how the system will look when implemented once development has commenced. With the advent of 4GLs, system development using a prototyping approach has become a viable option. This has reduced the development tlme significantly and, together with the use of prototyping, has allowed users to become more involved in the development process. However, this change in the …