Conceptual process designs computational model

Let us try to summarize the main principles (Han, 1994) on which a formalized computational model (outlined in the previous two sections) of the Douglas conceptual process design methodology was based (Douglas, 1988). 

Computer systems for cooperative modeling have been created for both IBIS and DRL [608, 807], which demonstrate the usability of the languages in academic and industrial settings and thus their empirical validation. Whereas several applications of IBIS have been reported in literature (e.g., [54, 525]), no results seem to be available for DRL. Nevertheless, we estimate the expressiveness of DRL as indispensable for the appropriate representation of design decisions during conceptual process design. 

The 3D space requirements of most molecules can be represented to a good approximation by such Van der Waals surfaces. Fused sphere VDWS s are used extensively in molecular modeling, especially in the interpretation of biochemical processes and computer aided drug design. These approximate molecular surfaces are conceptually simple, their computation and graphical display on a computer screen take relatively short time, even for large biomolecules. 

Stephanopoulos et al., 1994). It provides a well-defined structure of how the synthesis of conceptual processing schemes proceeds from very abstract, vague, and incomplete to fairly detailed, exact, and quite complete flowsheets. However, when it was developed, it was not intended to be a computational model for the design process itself. As a result, it lacks the requisite formalism and representational exactness needed for the construction of a computational process. In this section, we will provide a formalized restatement of the hierarchical procedure, in an effort to cast it more closely to a computational process for its computer-based automation. 

Bayer, B. Conceptual Information Modeling for Computer-Aided Support of Chemical Process Design, VDI Verlag (2003)... 

Bayer, B. Conceptual Information Modeling for Computer Aided Support of Chemical Process Design. PhD thesis, RWTH Aachen University. Published in Fortschritt-Berichte VDI Reihe 3, Nr. 787. VDI-Verlag, Diisseldorf (2003)... 

The conceptual model of the design process, discussed above (see also Fig. 2), should be turned into a logically well-defined computational process for the computer. There are high-level programming languages, such as FORTRAN, C, LISP, which can bridge the gap between the... 

In the previous section, we discussed the structure of a conceptual model that can be used to represent a design methodology. But the value of this model rests with the effectiveness of the representation schemes that one employs to describe the declarative and procedural components of the model in a way that the computer can understand. Thus, we are led to the need of defining a design-oriented language for the description of the computational process. 

The implementation of computer support for design processes requires formal representations of the work processes. To this end, the conceptual data model CLiP (cf. Subsect. 2.2.3) has been extended with a partial model covering design processes. The experiences gained with this model have led to its revision and re-implementation in form of a Process Ontology. Structure, content, and usage of both approaches are described in Subsect. 2.4.6. 

Obviously, work processes can be even better supported by the application of computer tools. A software tool which captures information about various best practice work processes could guide a designer by suggesting appropriate activities and advising him how to proceed. This requires the creation of a detailed, and. sufficiently formal conceptual model of the design process to be supported (7), which would then be used for the creation of a design model... 

The relational database model, introduced by E. F. Cod in 1970, is considered a major advance for users and database designers alike. At the time, however, many considered the model impractical because its conceptual simplicity was bought at the expense of computer overhead (Rob and Coronel 1997). As processing power has increased, the cost of implementing the relational model has dropped rapidly. Now you will find relational DBMS implementations from mainframes down to microcomputers in products like DB2, Oracle, and even Microsoft s Access. 

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