- Email: [email protected]
Methodology in computer graphics
74
Book Reviews
I. TROCH (Edo) S'nnulation o f Control Sy,~ems with Special Emphasis o n Modelling and Redun&lncy
Proceedings of the IMACS Symposium, Technical University, Vienna, September 27-29, 1978 North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1978, xiii + 309 pages, U.S. $ 41.50, Dfl. 85.00 The subject matter of this book is basically that of the simtdation of control systems. The topics discussed fall into three main areas: discussion of theoretical problems of simulation, simulations of hardware systems and models of management systems or those of direct interest to the management scientist. The book consists of reprints of papezs submitted to an IMACS symposium held in Vienna in 1978. Since they were intended to be available at the beginning of the conference they do not appear to have been subedited, with the result that occasionally their english is sufficiently quaint to be difficult to understand. The major problem with the papers, however, is theft brevity, which in some cases verges on the ridiculous. In one or two cases where a welldefined topic is being discussed, e.g. the simulatien of stiff systems, the result is a concise and usefid contribution. In most cases, however, the authors were clearly hampered by this constraint; topics have barely been introduced before the end of the paper, essential discussion is omitted in the interests of compression or results are discussed rapidly in very general terms because of insufficient space. Overall the view of the subject provided is analogous to that which might be gained from the window of a high speed train. The result is that authors had not space to point up the relevance of their discussions of hardware systems to management systems. This is regrettable, since a number of the survey papers make points in connexion with hardware systems that would also find application in management systemsfor instance, a discussion of the computation of optimal coW.tel equations that has relevance to the 'backcasting' controversy in World Dynamics - and some of the hardware systems modelled such as nuclear reactors also raise problems of interest to the modeller of management systems. A few case studies of management or similar
systems are given, including an interesting simulation of a multi-echelon stock control system, a model of a gas distribution system and an algorithm for energy saving in large buildings. Nevertheless it is hard to believe that tkis book will be of use to many management scientists. For those unfamiliar with control theory ideas more extensive discussion and more comprehensive references than those found in most of the papers are required, whereas specialists, though they may wish to refer to individual papers, are likely to want more depth than was feasible given the apparent constraint on length.
John SHARP Management Centre, University of Bradford Bradford, U.K.
Richard A. GUEDJ and Hugh A. TUCKER (Ed°) Methodology in Computer Graphics
Proceedings of IFIP Workshop, Seillac, France, May 1976 North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1979, xii + 206 pages, U.S. $ 29.95, Df. 60.00 This book gives a very detailed insight into the efforts of an IFIP-Working Group to establish standards for computer graphics. The first chapter consists of 14 position papers enlarged by detailed reporting of the discussions of those statements, which were presented .at the Workshop, Seillac 1976. The operational research worker who is interested in computer graphics should better concentrate on the working documents of the sub-groups (Chapter II; pages 139-196), which more concretely illustrate - core problems (graphic primitives, attributes, structure issues, . . . ) , - a methodology for deriving program structures, - a framework for the design of graphic systems, and - a conceptual framework.
H. NOL TEMEIER R ICTHAachen Aachen, Germany, Fed. Rep.
Book Reviews
I. TROCH (Edo) S'nnulation o f Control Sy,~ems with Special Emphasis o n Modelling and Redun&lncy
Proceedings of the IMACS Symposium, Technical University, Vienna, September 27-29, 1978 North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1978, xiii + 309 pages, U.S. $ 41.50, Dfl. 85.00 The subject matter of this book is basically that of the simtdation of control systems. The topics discussed fall into three main areas: discussion of theoretical problems of simulation, simulations of hardware systems and models of management systems or those of direct interest to the management scientist. The book consists of reprints of papezs submitted to an IMACS symposium held in Vienna in 1978. Since they were intended to be available at the beginning of the conference they do not appear to have been subedited, with the result that occasionally their english is sufficiently quaint to be difficult to understand. The major problem with the papers, however, is theft brevity, which in some cases verges on the ridiculous. In one or two cases where a welldefined topic is being discussed, e.g. the simulatien of stiff systems, the result is a concise and usefid contribution. In most cases, however, the authors were clearly hampered by this constraint; topics have barely been introduced before the end of the paper, essential discussion is omitted in the interests of compression or results are discussed rapidly in very general terms because of insufficient space. Overall the view of the subject provided is analogous to that which might be gained from the window of a high speed train. The result is that authors had not space to point up the relevance of their discussions of hardware systems to management systems. This is regrettable, since a number of the survey papers make points in connexion with hardware systems that would also find application in management systemsfor instance, a discussion of the computation of optimal coW.tel equations that has relevance to the 'backcasting' controversy in World Dynamics - and some of the hardware systems modelled such as nuclear reactors also raise problems of interest to the modeller of management systems. A few case studies of management or similar
systems are given, including an interesting simulation of a multi-echelon stock control system, a model of a gas distribution system and an algorithm for energy saving in large buildings. Nevertheless it is hard to believe that tkis book will be of use to many management scientists. For those unfamiliar with control theory ideas more extensive discussion and more comprehensive references than those found in most of the papers are required, whereas specialists, though they may wish to refer to individual papers, are likely to want more depth than was feasible given the apparent constraint on length.
John SHARP Management Centre, University of Bradford Bradford, U.K.
Richard A. GUEDJ and Hugh A. TUCKER (Ed°) Methodology in Computer Graphics
Proceedings of IFIP Workshop, Seillac, France, May 1976 North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1979, xii + 206 pages, U.S. $ 29.95, Df. 60.00 This book gives a very detailed insight into the efforts of an IFIP-Working Group to establish standards for computer graphics. The first chapter consists of 14 position papers enlarged by detailed reporting of the discussions of those statements, which were presented .at the Workshop, Seillac 1976. The operational research worker who is interested in computer graphics should better concentrate on the working documents of the sub-groups (Chapter II; pages 139-196), which more concretely illustrate - core problems (graphic primitives, attributes, structure issues, . . . ) , - a methodology for deriving program structures, - a framework for the design of graphic systems, and - a conceptual framework.
H. NOL TEMEIER R ICTHAachen Aachen, Germany, Fed. Rep.