Introducing Software Engineering for Process Control R. A. Chard
Designing Structured Programs David H~ggins
National Computing Centre, July 1983, 230 pp, $21.50/ £12.50, ISBN 085012 398 4
Prentice/Hall International, July 1983, 240 pp, £12.70, ISBN 13-201418-1
It is now widely recognised that computers can provide a range of benefits in the process control environment. For example, flexible control potential linked to information processing capability is provided. This book explains the nature of process control, contrasting it with data processing and describes the main elements in a computer-based control facility. The use of digital and analogue signals for input and output is described and attention is given to such aspects as change detection (e.g. change in position of an actuator) and annunciation.
This book presents, say the publishers, a step-by-step method for creating the best computer program possible every single time for every kind of need - in any language, on any machine. It is written for the novice who has just acquired a knowledge of his or her first programming language as well as for the veteran who has been programming electronic machines for as long as they have existed. The Warnier/Orr Method presented here not only supports easy and accurate analysis of a software problem but also, it is said, leads to the creation of the most maintainable software conceivable.
Software Development - Manual for the Planning, Realization and Installation of DP Systems Siemens
Civil Engineering Systems Analysis and Design A. A. Smith, R. I4/.Lewis and E. Hinton
John Wiley & Sons, £25.00, ISBN 0 855017406 The aims of all those who are engaged individually or as part of a team in design, development or management, or of teams, who are involved in planning, implementing, releasing or supporting data-processing systems, must be to keep the costs of the development and maintenance of the software as low as possible and to improve the quality of the software products. This manual is said to be an aid for all these groups as they follow a systematic approach to planning and implementation, monitor the individual work stages from conception to release, and select and use suitable aids for planning and implementation.
Informatics in Structural Engineering Proceedings - IABSE Workshop, Bergamo 1982 (ABSE Reports, Vol. 40, 396 pp, April 1983, ISBN 3 85748 038 6 In earlier Workshops dealing with this subject (1978 and 1980), most papers were concerned with 'structural analysis' while in the 1982 Workshop more interest was shown in CAD and CAM, as well as microcomputers and computer graphics. Even if it were possible that an almost complete automation of the design process could be realised within the next ten years, this would only be achieved through successive steps in the various phases of the design activity. Papers and discussions presented in these Proceedings are a contribution in this direction.
Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis and Adina K. J. Bathe (Ed.) Pergamon Press, June ISBN 0 08 0305660
John Wiley, September 1983, 520 pp, $44.00/£22.00, ISBN 0471 90059 1 (cloth) A text for students of Civil Engineering, which exposes the reader to the concept and methods of systems analysis and design. These ideas are illustrated by means of problem types likely to be encountered in practice, and emphasise the full-range of socioeconomic factors which have a bearing on the solution of multidisciplinary problems.
Simulation in Engineering Sciences Proceedings of the IMACS International Symposium, Nantes, France, 9-11 May 1983 J. Burger and Y. Jarny (Eds) Elsevier Science Publishers, 1983, 438 pp, US$52.00, ISBN 0-444-86795-3 The various chapters of this volume take into account the topics used at the sessions of the Symposium. The four invited survey papers are followed by the contributions related to simulation methods and tools, studied from both the software and the hardware points of view. A great number of papers are devoted to technical applications, i.e. to the simulation of actual processes. The contributions concerning mainly modelling are not separated from the others in this work because of the strong connection between modelling and simulation.
Simulation Proceedings of the 1983 Summer Computer Simulation Conference, 11-13 July 1983, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Society for Computer Simulation, 1983,908 pp, US$60.00, ISBN 0-444-86715-5
1983, 929 pp, £58.00/$104.00,
The objective of the ADINA Conferences is to contribute to this continuing education process. In these conferences a number of valuable papers are presented on the usage of the ADINA system that provide the focal point for in-depth discussions of current state-of-the-art modelling and solution of complex problems. The reason for concentrating on the use of one finite element program system is to give a common basis of interest and understanding to the conference participants. However, many experiences discussed are quite general and should be of interest to most finite element researchers and practitioners. This volume contains the papers presented at the 4th ADINA Conference.
The 1983 SCSC is the 15th of a series of annual meetings dedicated to the exchange of ideas and technical information on the use of computers for modelling and simulation. Stewart Schlesinger acted as General Chairman at this event, and the Program Chairmen were A. Jack Shiewe and Walter Karplus. The Proceedings have been printed in two volumes. Volume 1 contains a broad spectrum of contributed papers describing current work in engineering design and analysis; physical, chemical, biological, electrical and mechanical processes; environmental, industrial and military applications; systems, operations and control; management and planning; and research and training. Volume 2 includes special survey papers and plenary presentations of broad general interest.
Adv. Eng. Software, 1983, Vol. 6, No. 2
125