An Active Learning Module for an Introduction to Software Engineering Course

Many schools do not begin to introduce college students to software engineering until they have had at least one semester of programming. Since software engineering is a large, complex, and abstract subject it is difficult to construct active learning exercises that build on the students’ elementary knowledge of programming and still teach basic software engineering principles. It is also the case that beginning students typically know how to construct small programs, but they have little experience with the techniques necessary to produce reliable and long-term maintainable modules. I have addressed these two concerns by defining a local standard (Montana Tech Method (MTM) Software Development Standard for Small Modules Template) that step-by-step directs students toward the construction of highly reliable small modules using well known, best-practices software engineering techniques. “Small module” is here defined as a coherent development task that can be unit tested, and can be car ried out by a single (or a pair of) software engineer(s) in at most a few weeks. The standard describes the process to be used and also provides a template for the top-level documentation. The instructional module’s sequence of mini-lectures and exercises associated with the use of this (and other) local standards are used throughout the course, which perforce covers more abstract software engineering material using traditional reading and writing assignments. The sequence of mini-lectures and hands-on assignments (many of which are done in small groups) constitutes an instructional module that can be used in any similar software engineering course.

Dicto: Keeping Software Architecture Under Control

Dicto is a declarative language for specifying architectural rules using a single uniform notation. Once defined, rules can automatically be validated using adapted off-the-shelf tools.

Low-complexity timing synchronization scheme for MB-OFDM UWB receiver based on sign-bit

A unified low complexity sign-bit correlation based symbol timing synchronization scheme for Multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MB-OFDM) Ultra Wideband (UWB) receiver system is proposed. By using the time domain sequence of the packet/frame synchronization preamble, the proposed scheme is in charge of detecting the upcoming MB-OFDM symbol and it estimates the exact boundary of the start of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) window. The proposed algorithm is implemented by using an efficient Hardware-Software co-simulation methodology. The effectiveness of the proposed synchronization scheme and the optimization criteria is confirmed by hardware implementation results.

Interfaz gráfica y fase de pruebas de software de vídeo forense (Sistema de codificación DV)

El presente proyecto fin de carrera, realizado por el ingeniero técnico en telecomunicaciones Pedro M. Matamala Lucas, es la fase final de desarrollo de un proyecto de mayor magnitud correspondiente al software de vídeo forense SAVID. El propósito del proyecto en su totalidad es la creación de una herramienta informática capacitada para realizar el análisis de ficheros de vídeo, codificados y comprimidos por el sistema DV –Digital Video-. El objetivo del análisis, es aportar información acerca de si la cinta magnética presenta indicios de haber sido manipulada con una edición posterior a su grabación original, además, de mostrar al usuario otros datos de interés como las especificaciones técnicas de la señal de vídeo y audio. Por lo tanto, se facilitará al usuario, analista de vídeo forense, información que le ayude a valorar la originalidad del contenido del soporte que es sujeto del análisis. El objetivo específico de esta fase final, es la creación de la interfaz de usuario del software, que informa tanto del código binario de los sectores significativos, como de su interpretación tras el análisis. También permitirá al usuario el reporte de los resultados, además de otras funcionalidades que le permitan la navegación por los sectores del código que han sido modificados como efecto colateral de la edición de la cinta magnética original. Otro objetivo importante del proyecto ha sido la investigación de metodologías y técnicas de desarrollo de software para su posterior implementación, buscando con esto, una mayor eficiencia en la gestión del tiempo y una mayor calidad de software con el fin de garantizar su evolución y sostenibilidad en el futuro. Se ha hecho hincapié en las metodologías ágiles que han ido ganando relevancia en el sector de las tecnologías de la información en las últimas décadas, sustituyendo a metodologías clásicas como el desarrollo en cascada. Su flexibilidad durante el ciclo de vida del software, permite obtener mejores resultados cuando las especificaciones no están del todo definidas, ajustándose de este modo a las condiciones del proyecto. Resumiendo las especificaciones técnicas del software, C++ es el lenguaje de programación orientado a objetos con el que se ha desarrollado, utilizándose la tecnología MFC -Microsoft Foundation Classes- para la implementación. Es un proyecto MFC de tipo cuadro de dialogo,creado, compilado y publicado, con la herramienta de desarrollo integrado Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. La arquitectura con la que se ha estructurado es la arquetípica de tres capas, compuesta por la interfaz de usuario, capa de negocio y capa de acceso a datos. Se ha visto necesario configurar el proyecto con compatibilidad con CLR –Common Languages Runtime- para poder implementar la funcionalidad de creación de reportes. Acompañando a la aplicación informática, se presenta la memoria del proyecto y sus anexos correspondientes a los documentos EDRF –Especificaciones Detalladas de Requisitos funcionales-, EIU –Especificaciones de Interfaz de Usuario , DT -Diseño Técnico- y Guía de Usuario. SUMMARY. This dissertation, carried out by the telecommunications engineer Pedro M. Matamala Lucas, is in its final stage and is part of a larger project for the software of forensic video called SAVID. The purpose of the entire project is the creation of a software tool capable of analyzing video files that are coded and compressed by the DV -Digital Video- System. The objective of the analysis is to provide information on whether the magnetic tape shows signs of having been tampered with after the editing of the original recording, and also to show the user other relevant data and technical specifications of the video signal and audio. Therefore the user, forensic video analyst, will have information to help assess the originality of the content of the media that is subject to analysis. The specific objective of this final phase is the creation of the user interface of the software that provides information about the binary code of the significant sectors and also its interpretation after analysis. It will also allow the user to report the results, and other features that will allow browsing through the sections of the code that have been modified as a secondary effect of the original magnetic tape being tampered. Another important objective of the project is the investigation of methodologies and software development techniques to be used in deployment, with the aim of greater efficiency in time management and enhanced software quality in order to ensure its development and maintenance in the future. Agile methodologies, which have become important in the field of information technology in recent decades, have been used during the execution of the project, replacing classical methodologies such as Waterfall Development. The flexibility, as the result of using by agile methodologies, during the software life cycle, produces better results when the specifications are not fully defined, thus conforming to the initial conditions of the project. Summarizing the software technical specifications, C + + the programming language – which is object oriented and has been developed using technology MFC- Microsoft Foundation Classes for implementation. It is a project type dialog box, created, compiled and released with the integrated development tool Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. The architecture is structured in three layers: the user interface, business layer and data access layer. It has been necessary to configure the project with the support CLR -Common Languages Runtime – in order to implement the reporting functionality. The software application is submitted with the project report and its annexes to the following documents: Functional Requirements Specifications - Detailed User Interface Specifications, Technical Design and User Guide.

Design and Validation of an Optimized MB-OFDM Ultra Wideband Transceiver System

Esta tesis está incluida dentro del campo del campo de Multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Ultra Wideband (MB-OFDM UWB), el cual ha adquirido una gran importancia en las comunicaciones inalámbricas de alta tasa de datos en la última década. UWB surgió con el objetivo de satisfacer la creciente demanda de conexiones inalámbricas en interiores y de uso doméstico, con bajo coste y alta velocidad. La disponibilidad de un ancho de banda grande, el potencial para alta velocidad de transmisión, baja complejidad y bajo consumo de energía, unido al bajo coste de implementación, representa una oportunidad única para que UWB se convierta en una solución ampliamente utilizada en aplicaciones de Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). UWB está definido como cualquier transmisión que ocupa un ancho de banda de más de 20% de su frecuencia central, o más de 500 MHz. En 2002, la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC) definió que el rango de frecuencias de transmisión de UWB legal es de 3.1 a 10.6 GHz, con una energía de transmisión de -41.3 dBm/Hz. Bajo las directrices de FCC, el uso de la tecnología UWB puede aportar una enorme capacidad en las comunicaciones de corto alcance. Considerando las ecuaciones de capacidad de Shannon, incrementar la capacidad del canal requiere un incremento lineal en el ancho de banda, mientras que un aumento similar de la capacidad de canal requiere un aumento exponencial en la energía de transmisión. En los últimos años, s diferentes desarrollos del UWB han sido extensamente estudiados en diferentes áreas, entre los cuales, el protocolo de comunicaciones inalámbricas MB-OFDM UWB está considerado como la mejor elección y ha sido adoptado como estándar ISO/IEC para los WPANs. Combinando la modulación OFDM y la transmisión de datos utilizando las técnicas de salto de frecuencia, el sistema MB-OFDM UWB es capaz de soportar tasas de datos con que pueden variar de los 55 a los 480 Mbps, alcanzando una distancia máxima de hasta 10 metros. Se esperara que la tecnología MB-OFDM tenga un consumo energético muy bajo copando un are muy reducida en silicio, proporcionando soluciones de bajo coste que satisfagan las demandas del mercado. Para cumplir con todas estas expectativas, el desarrollo y la investigación del MBOFDM UWB deben enfrentarse a varios retos, como son la sincronización de alta sensibilidad, las restricciones de baja complejidad, las estrictas limitaciones energéticas, la escalabilidad y la flexibilidad. Tales retos requieren un procesamiento digital de la señal de última generación, capaz de desarrollar sistemas que puedan aprovechar por completo las ventajas del espectro UWB y proporcionar futuras aplicaciones inalámbricas en interiores. Esta tesis se centra en la completa optimización de un sistema de transceptor de banda base MB-OFDM UWB digital, cuyo objetivo es investigar y diseñar un subsistema de comunicación inalámbrica para la aplicación de las Redes de Sensores Inalámbricas Visuales. La complejidad inherente de los procesadores FFT/IFFT y el sistema de sincronización así como la alta frecuencia de operación para todos los elementos de procesamiento, se convierten en el cuello de la botella para el diseño y la implementación del sistema de UWB digital en base de banda basado en MB-OFDM de baja energía. El objetivo del transceptor propuesto es conseguir baja energía y baja complejidad bajo la premisa de un alto rendimiento. Las optimizaciones están realizadas tanto a nivel algorítmico como a nivel arquitectural para todos los elementos del sistema. Una arquitectura hardware eficiente en consumo se propone en primer lugar para aquellos módulos correspondientes a núcleos de computación. Para el procesado de la Transformada Rápida de Fourier (FFT/IFFT), se propone un algoritmo mixed-radix, basado en una arquitectura con pipeline y se ha desarrollado un módulo de Decodificador de Viterbi (VD) equilibrado en coste-velocidad con el objetivo de reducir el consumo energético e incrementar la velocidad de procesamiento. También se ha implementado un correlador signo-bit simple basado en la sincronización del tiempo de símbolo es presentado. Este correlador es usado para detectar y sincronizar los paquetes de OFDM de forma robusta y precisa. Para el desarrollo de los subsitemas de procesamiento y realizar la integración del sistema completo se han empleado tecnologías de última generación. El dispositivo utilizado para el sistema propuesto es una FPGA Virtex 5 XC5VLX110T del fabricante Xilinx. La validación el propuesta para el sistema transceptor se ha implementado en dicha placa de FPGA. En este trabajo se presenta un algoritmo, y una arquitectura, diseñado con filosofía de co-diseño hardware/software para el desarrollo de sistemas de FPGA complejos. El objetivo principal de la estrategia propuesta es de encontrar una metodología eficiente para el diseño de un sistema de FPGA configurable optimizado con el empleo del mínimo esfuerzo posible en el sistema de procedimiento de verificación, por tanto acelerar el periodo de desarrollo del sistema. La metodología de co-diseño presentada tiene la ventaja de ser fácil de usar, contiene todos los pasos desde la propuesta del algoritmo hasta la verificación del hardware, y puede ser ampliamente extendida para casi todos los tipos de desarrollos de FPGAs. En este trabajo se ha desarrollado sólo el sistema de transceptor digital de banda base por lo que la comprobación de señales transmitidas a través del canal inalámbrico en los entornos reales de comunicación sigue requiriendo componentes RF y un front-end analógico. No obstante, utilizando la metodología de co-simulación hardware/software citada anteriormente, es posible comunicar el sistema de transmisor y el receptor digital utilizando los modelos de canales propuestos por IEEE 802.15.3a, implementados en MATLAB. Por tanto, simplemente ajustando las características de cada modelo de canal, por ejemplo, un incremento del retraso y de la frecuencia central, podemos estimar el comportamiento del sistema propuesto en diferentes escenarios y entornos. Las mayores contribuciones de esta tesis son: • Se ha propuesto un nuevo algoritmo 128-puntos base mixto FFT usando la arquitectura pipeline multi-ruta. Los complejos multiplicadores para cada etapa de procesamiento son diseñados usando la arquitectura modificada shiftadd. Los sistemas word length y twiddle word length son comparados y seleccionados basándose en la señal para cuantización del SQNR y el análisis de energías. • El desempeño del procesador IFFT es analizado bajo diferentes situaciones aritméticas de bloques de punto flotante (BFP) para el control de desbordamiento, por tanto, para encontrar la arquitectura perfecta del algoritmo IFFT basado en el procesador FFT propuesto. • Para el sistema de receptor MB-OFDM UWB se ha empleado una sincronización del tiempo innovadora, de baja complejidad y esquema de compensación, que consiste en funciones de Detector de Paquetes (PD) y Estimación del Offset del tiempo. Simplificando el cross-correlation y maximizar las funciones probables solo a sign-bit, la complejidad computacional se ve reducida significativamente. • Se ha propuesto un sistema de decodificadores Viterbi de 64 estados de decisión-débil usando velocidad base-4 de arquitectura suma-comparaselecciona. El algoritmo Two-pointer Even también es introducido en la unidad de rastreador de origen con el objetivo de conseguir la eficiencia en el hardware. • Se han integrado varias tecnologías de última generación en el completo sistema transceptor basebanda , con el objetivo de implementar un sistema de comunicación UWB altamente optimizado. • Un diseño de flujo mejorado es propuesto para el complejo sistema de implementación, el cual puede ser usado para diseños de Cadena de puertas de campo programable general (FPGA). El diseño mencionado no sólo reduce dramáticamente el tiempo para la verificación funcional, sino también provee un análisis automático como los errores del retraso del output para el sistema de hardware implementado. • Un ambiente de comunicación virtual es establecido para la validación del propuesto sistema de transceptores MB-OFDM. Este método es provisto para facilitar el uso y la conveniencia de analizar el sistema digital de basebanda sin parte frontera analógica bajo diferentes ambientes de comunicación. Esta tesis doctoral está organizada en seis capítulos. En el primer capítulo se encuentra una breve introducción al campo del UWB, tanto relacionado con el proyecto como la motivación del desarrollo del sistema de MB-OFDM. En el capítulo 2, se presenta la información general y los requisitos del protocolo de comunicación inalámbrica MBOFDM UWB. En el capítulo 3 se habla de la arquitectura del sistema de transceptor digital MB-OFDM de banda base . El diseño del algoritmo propuesto y la arquitectura para cada elemento del procesamiento está detallado en este capítulo. Los retos de diseño del sistema que involucra un compromiso de discusión entre la complejidad de diseño, el consumo de energía, el coste de hardware, el desempeño del sistema, y otros aspectos. En el capítulo 4, se ha descrito la co-diseñada metodología de hardware/software. Cada parte del flujo del diseño será detallado con algunos ejemplos que se ha hecho durante el desarrollo del sistema. Aprovechando esta estrategia de diseño, el procedimiento de comunicación virtual es llevado a cabo para probar y analizar la arquitectura del transceptor propuesto. Los resultados experimentales de la co-simulación y el informe sintético de la implementación del sistema FPGA son reflejados en el capítulo 5. Finalmente, en el capítulo 6 se incluye las conclusiones y los futuros proyectos, y también los resultados derivados de este proyecto de doctorado. ABSTRACT In recent years, the Wireless Visual Sensor Network (WVSN) has drawn great interest in wireless communication research area. They enable a wealth of new applications such as building security control, image sensing, and target localization. However, nowadays wireless communication protocols (ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for example) cannot fully satisfy the demands of high data rate, low power consumption, short range, and high robustness requirements. New communication protocol is highly desired for such kind of applications. The Ultra Wideband (UWB) wireless communication protocol, which has increased in importance for high data rate wireless communication field, are emerging as an important topic for WVSN research. UWB has emerged as a technology that offers great promise to satisfy the growing demand for low-cost, high-speed digital wireless indoor and home networks. The large bandwidth available, the potential for high data rate transmission, and the potential for low complexity and low power consumption, along with low implementation cost, all present a unique opportunity for UWB to become a widely adopted radio solution for future Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) applications. UWB is defined as any transmission that occupies a bandwidth of more than 20% of its center frequency, or more than 500 MHz. In 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that UWB radio transmission can legally operate in the range from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz at a transmitter power of －41.3 dBm/Hz. Under the FCC guidelines, the use of UWB technology can provide enormous capacity over short communication ranges. Considering Shannon’s capacity equations, increasing the channel capacity requires linear increasing in bandwidth, whereas similar channel capacity increases would require exponential increases in transmission power. In recent years, several different UWB developments has been widely studied in different area, among which, the MB-OFDM UWB wireless communication protocol is considered to be the leading choice and has recently been adopted in the ISO/IEC standard for WPANs. By combing the OFDM modulation and data transmission using frequency hopping techniques, the MB-OFDM UWB system is able to support various data rates, ranging from 55 to 480 Mbps, over distances up to 10 meters. The MB-OFDM technology is expected to consume very little power and silicon area, as well as provide low-cost solutions that can satisfy consumer market demands. To fulfill these expectations, MB-OFDM UWB research and development have to cope with several challenges, which consist of high-sensitivity synchronization, low- complexity constraints, strict power limitations, scalability, and flexibility. Such challenges require state-of-the-art digital signal processing expertise to develop systems that could fully take advantages of the UWB spectrum and support future indoor wireless applications. This thesis focuses on fully optimization for the MB-OFDM UWB digital baseband transceiver system, aiming at researching and designing a wireless communication subsystem for the Wireless Visual Sensor Networks (WVSNs) application. The inherent high complexity of the FFT/IFFT processor and synchronization system, and high operation frequency for all processing elements, becomes the bottleneck for low power MB-OFDM based UWB digital baseband system hardware design and implementation. The proposed transceiver system targets low power and low complexity under the premise of high performance. Optimizations are made at both algorithm and architecture level for each element of the transceiver system. The low-power hardwareefficient structures are firstly proposed for those core computation modules, i.e., the mixed-radix algorithm based pipelined architecture is proposed for the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT/IFFT) processor, and the cost-speed balanced Viterbi Decoder (VD) module is developed, in the aim of lowering the power consumption and increasing the processing speed. In addition, a low complexity sign-bit correlation based symbol timing synchronization scheme is presented so as to detect and synchronize the OFDM packets robustly and accurately. Moreover, several state-of-the-art technologies are used for developing other processing subsystems and an entire MB-OFDM digital baseband transceiver system is integrated. The target device for the proposed transceiver system is Xilinx Virtex 5 XC5VLX110T FPGA board. In order to validate the proposed transceiver system in the FPGA board, a unified algorithm-architecture-circuit hardware/software co-design environment for complex FPGA system development is presented in this work. The main objective of the proposed strategy is to find an efficient methodology for designing a configurable optimized FPGA system by using as few efforts as possible in system verification procedure, so as to speed up the system development period. The presented co-design methodology has the advantages of easy to use, covering all steps from algorithm proposal to hardware verification, and widely spread for almost all kinds of FPGA developments. Because only the digital baseband transceiver system is developed in this thesis, the validation of transmitting signals through wireless channel in real communication environments still requires the analog front-end and RF components. However, by using the aforementioned hardware/software co-simulation methodology, the transmitter and receiver digital baseband systems get the opportunity to communicate with each other through the channel models, which are proposed from the IEEE 802.15.3a research group, established in MATLAB. Thus, by simply adjust the characteristics of each channel model, e.g. mean excess delay and center frequency, we can estimate the transmission performance of the proposed transceiver system through different communication situations. The main contributions of this thesis are: • A novel mixed radix 128-point FFT algorithm by using multipath pipelined architecture is proposed. The complex multipliers for each processing stage are designed by using modified shift-add architectures. The system wordlength and twiddle word-length are compared and selected based on Signal to Quantization Noise Ratio (SQNR) and power analysis. • IFFT processor performance is analyzed under different Block Floating Point (BFP) arithmetic situations for overflow control, so as to find out the perfect architecture of IFFT algorithm based on the proposed FFT processor. • An innovative low complex timing synchronization and compensation scheme, which consists of Packet Detector (PD) and Timing Offset Estimation (TOE) functions, for MB-OFDM UWB receiver system is employed. By simplifying the cross-correlation and maximum likelihood functions to signbit only, the computational complexity is significantly reduced. • A 64 state soft-decision Viterbi Decoder system by using high speed radix-4 Add-Compare-Select architecture is proposed. Two-pointer Even algorithm is also introduced into the Trace Back unit in the aim of hardware-efficiency. • Several state-of-the-art technologies are integrated into the complete baseband transceiver system, in the aim of implementing a highly-optimized UWB communication system. • An improved design flow is proposed for complex system implementation which can be used for general Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) designs. The design method not only dramatically reduces the time for functional verification, but also provides automatic analysis such as errors and output delays for the implemented hardware systems. • A virtual communication environment is established for validating the proposed MB-OFDM transceiver system. This methodology is proved to be easy for usage and convenient for analyzing the digital baseband system without analog frontend under different communication environments. This PhD thesis is organized in six chapters. In the chapter 1 a brief introduction to the UWB field, as well as the related work, is done, along with the motivation of MBOFDM system development. In the chapter 2, the general information and requirement of MB-OFDM UWB wireless communication protocol is presented. In the chapter 3, the architecture of the MB-OFDM digital baseband transceiver system is presented. The design of the proposed algorithm and architecture for each processing element is detailed in this chapter. Design challenges of such system involve trade-off discussions among design complexity, power consumption, hardware cost, system performance, and some other aspects. All these factors are analyzed and discussed. In the chapter 4, the hardware/software co-design methodology is proposed. Each step of this design flow will be detailed by taking some examples that we met during system development. Then, taking advantages of this design strategy, the Virtual Communication procedure is carried out so as to test and analyze the proposed transceiver architecture. Experimental results from the co-simulation and synthesis report of the implemented FPGA system are given in the chapter 5. The chapter 6 includes conclusions and future work, as well as the results derived from this PhD work.

SolarPaces 2013: Innovations on direct steam generation in linear fresnel collectors

Direct Steam Generation (DSG) in Linear Fresnel (LF) solar collectors is being consolidated as a feasible technology for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. The competitiveness of this technology relies on the following main features: water as heat transfer fluid (HTF) in Solar Field (SF), obtaining high superheated steam temperatures and pressures at turbine inlet (500ºC and 90 bar), no heat tracing required to avoid HTF freezing, no HTF degradation, no environmental impacts, any heat exchanger between SF and Balance Of Plant (BOP), and low cost installation and maintenance. Regarding to LF solar collectors, were recently developed as an alternative to Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) technology. The main advantages of LF are: the reduced collector manufacturing cost and maintenance, linear mirrors shapes versus parabolic mirror, fixed receiver pipes (no ball joints reducing leaking for high pressures), lower susceptibility to wind damages, and light supporting structures allowing reduced driving devices. Companies as Novatec, Areva, Solar Euromed, etc., are investing in LF DSG technology and constructing different pilot plants to demonstrate the benefits and feasibility of this solution for defined locations and conditions (Puerto Errado 1 and 2 in Murcia Spain, Lidellin Newcastle Australia, Kogran Creek in South West Queensland Australia, Kimberlina in Bakersfield California USA, Llo Solar in Pyrénées France,Dhursar in India,etc). There are several critical decisions that must be taken in order to obtain a compromise and optimization between plant performance, cost, and durability. Some of these decisions go through the SF design: proper thermodynamic operational parameters, receiver material selection for high pressures, phase separators and recirculation pumps number and location, pipes distribution to reduce the amount of tubes (reducing possible leaks points and transient time, etc.), etc. Attending to these aspects, the correct design parameters selection and its correct assessment are the main target for designing DSG LF power plants. For this purpose in the recent few years some commercial software tools were developed to simulatesolar thermal power plants, the most focused on LF DSG design are Thermoflex and System Advisor Model (SAM). Once the simulation tool is selected,it is made the study of the proposed SFconfiguration that constitutes the main innovation of this work, and also a comparison with one of the most typical state-of-the-art configuration. The transient analysis must be simulated with high detail level, mainly in the BOP during start up, shut down, stand by, and partial loads are crucial, to obtain the annual plant performance. An innovative SF configurationwas proposed and analyzed to improve plant performance. Finally it was demonstrated thermal inertia and BOP regulation mode are critical points in low sun irradiation day plant behavior, impacting in annual performance depending on power plant location.

Integrated learning of production engineering software applications in a shipbuilding context

Acourse focused on the acquisition of integration competencies in ship production engineering, organized in collaboration with selected industry partners, is presented in this paper. The first part of the course is dedicated to Project Management: the students acquire skills in defining, using MS-PROJECT, the work breakdown structure (WBS), and the organization breakdown structure (OBS) in Engineering projects, through a series of examples of increasing complexity with the final one being the construction planning of a vessel. The second part of the course is dedicated to the use of a database manager, MS-ACCESS, in managing production related information.Aseries of increasing complexity examples is treated, the final one being the management of the piping database of a real vessel. This database consists of several thousand pipes, for which a production timing frame is defined connecting this part of the course with the first one. Finally, the third part of the course is devoted to working withFORAN,an Engineering Production application developed bySENERand widely used in the shipbuilding industry. With this application, the structural elements where all the outfittings will be located are defined through cooperative work by the students, working simultaneously in the same 3D model. In this paper, specific details about the learning process are given. Surveys have been posed to the students in order to get feedback from their experience as well as to assess their satisfaction with the learning process, compared to more traditional ones. Results from these surveys are discussed in the paper.

Mandate M 376: new software accessibility requirements

Software needs to be accessible for persons with disabilities and there are several guidelines to assist developers in building more accessible software. Regulation activities are beginning to make the accessibility of software a mandatory requirement in some countries. One such activity is the European Mandate M 376, which will result in a European standard (EN 301 549) defining functional accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services. This paper provides an overview of Mandate M 376 and EN 301 549, and describes the requirements for software accessibility defined in EN 301 549, according to a feature-based approach

From Analysis Model to Software Architecture: a PIM2PIM Mapping.

To our knowledge, no current software development methodology explicitly describes how to transit from the analysis model to the software architecture of the application. This paper presents a method to derive the software architecture of a system from its analysis model. To do this, we are going to use MDA. Both the analysis model and the architectural model are PIMs described with UML 2. The model type mapping designed consists of several rules (expressed using OCL and natural language) that, when applied to the analysis artifacts, generate the software architecture of the application. Specifically the rules act on elements of the UML 2 metamodel (metamodel mapping). We have developed a tool (using Smalltalk) that permits the automatic application of these rules to an analysis model defined in RoseTM to generate the application architecture expressed in the architectural style C2.

Mandate M 376: new software accessibility requirements

Software needs to be accessible for persons with disabilities and there are several guidelines to assist developers in building more accessible software. Regulation activities are beginning to make the accessibility of software a mandatory requirement in some countries. One such activity is the European Mandate M 376, which will result in a European standard (EN 301 549) defining functional accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services. This paper provides an overview of Mandate M 376 and EN 301 549, and describes the requirements for software accessibility defined in EN 301 549, according to a feature-based approach.

Análisis de la calidad y productividad en el desarrollo de un proyecto software en una microempresa con TSPi

Este artículo presenta el análisis de los resultados obtenidos al aplicar TSPi en el desarrollo de un proyecto software en una microempresa desde el punto de vista de la calidad y la productividad. La organización en estudio necesitaba mejorar la calidad de sus procesos pero no contaba con los recursos económicos que requieren modelos como CMMI-DEV. Por esta razón, se decidió utilizar un proceso adaptado a la organización basado en TSPi, observándose una reducción en la desviación de las estimaciones, un incremento en la productividad, y una mejora en la calidad.---ABSTRACT---This article shows the benefits of developing a software project using TSPi in a “Very Small Enterprise” based in quality and productivity measures. An adapted process from the current process based on the TSPi was defined and the team was trained in it. The workaround began by gathering historical data from previous projects in order to get a measurement repository, and then the project metrics were collected. Finally, the process, product and quality improvements were verified.

A small settings case study using TSPi in a software project

This article introduces a small setting case study about the benefits of using TSPi in a software project. An adapted process from the current process based on the TSPi was defined. The pilot project had schedule and budget constraints. The process began by gathering historical data from previous projects in order to get a measurement repository. The project was launched with the following goals: increase the productivity, reduce the test time and improve the product quality. Finally, the results were analysed and the goals were verified

Benefits of TSPi in a software project under a small settings enviroment

This article presents a case study about the TSPi benefits in a software project under a Small Settings environment. An adapted process based on the TSPi was defined. The pilot project had a schedule and budget restricted. The process began collecting historical projects data in order to get a measure repository. The project was launched defining the following goals: increase the productivity, reduce the test time and improve the product quality. Finally, the results were analysed and the goals were verified.

Novatests : metodología y herramienta software de apoyo para los ingenieros de prueba junior

La Ingeniería de Pruebas está especializada en la verificación y validación del Software,y formalmente se define como: “Proceso de desarrollo que emplea métodos rigurosos para evaluar la corrección y calidad del producto a lo largo de todo su ciclo de vida” [3]. Este proceso comprende un conjunto de métodos, procedimientos y técnicas formalmente definidas las cuales, usadas de forma sistemática, facilitan la identificación de la mayor cantidad de errores y fallos posibles de un software. Un software que pase un proceso riguroso de pruebas es un producto de calidad que seguramente facilitará la labor del Ingeniero de Software en la corrección de futuras incidencias, algunas de ellas generadas tras la implantación en el entorno real. Este proceso constituye un área de la Ingeniería del Software y una especialidad por tanto, de la misma. De forma simple, la consecución de una correcta Verificación y Validación del Software requiere de algunas actividades imprescindibles como: - Realizar un plan de pruebas del proyecto. - Actualizar dicho plan y corregirlo en caso necesario. - Revisar los documentos de análisis de requisitos. - Ejecutar las pruebas en las diferentes fases del desarrollo del proyecto. - Documentar el diseño y la ejecución de las pruebas. - Generar documentos con los resultados y anomalías de las pruebas ya ejecutadas. Actualmente, la Ingeniería de Pruebas no es muy reconocida como área de trabajo independiente sino más bien, un área inmersa dentro de la Ingeniería de Software. En el entorno laboral existe el perfil de Ingeniero de Pruebas, sin embargo pocos ingenieros de software tienen claro querer ser Ingenieros de Pruebas (probadores o testers) debido a que nunca han tenido la oportunidad de enfrentarse a actividades prácticas reales dentro de los centros de estudios universitarios donde cursan la carrera. Al ser un área de inherente ejercicio profesional, la parte correspondiente de la Ingeniería de Pruebas suele enfocarse desde un punto de vista teórico más que práctico. Hay muchas herramientas para la creación de pruebas y de ayuda para los ingenieros de pruebas, pero la mayoría son de pago o hechas a medida para grandes empresas que necesitan dicho software. Normalmente la gente conoce lo que es la Ingeniería de Pruebas únicamente cuando se empieza a adquirir experiencia en dicha área en el ejercicio profesional dentro de una empresa. Con lo cual, el acercamiento durante la carrera no necesariamente le ha ofrecido al profesional en Ingeniería, la oportunidad de trabajar en esta rama de la Ingeniería del Software y en algunos casos, NOVATests: Metodología y herramienta software de apoyo para los Ingenieros de Prueba Junior 4 los recién egresados comienzan su vida profesional con algún desconocimiento en este sentido. Es por el conjunto de estas razones, que mi intención en este proyecto es proponer una metodología y una herramienta software de apoyo a dicha metodología, para que los estudiantes de carreras de Ingeniería Software y afines, e ingenieros recién egresados con poca experiencia o ninguna en esta área (Ingenieros de Pruebas Junior), puedan poner en práctica las actividades de la Ingeniería de Pruebas dentro de un entorno lo más cercano posible al ejercicio de la labor profesional. De esta forma, podrían desarrollar las tareas propias de dicha área de una manera fácil e intuitiva, favoreciendo un mayor conocimiento y experiencia de la misma. ABSTRACT The software engineering is specialized in the verification and validation of Software and it is formally defined as: “Development process which by strict methods evaluates and corrects the quality of the product along its lifecycle”. This process contains a number of methods, procedures and techniques formally defined which used systematically make easier the identification of the highest quantity of error and failures within a Software. A software going through this rigorous process of tests will become a quality product that will help the software engineer`s work while correcting incidences. Some of them probably generated after the deployment in a real environment. This process belongs to the Software engineering and therefore it is a specialization itself. Simplifying, the correct verification and validation of a software requires some essential activities such as: -Create a Test Plan of the project - Update this Test Plan and correct if necessary - Check Requirement’s specification documents -Execute the different tests among all the phases of the project - Create the pertinent documentation about design and execution of these tests. - Generate the result documents and all the possible incidences the tests could contain. Currently, the Test engineering is not recognized as a work area but an area immerse within the Software engineering. The professional environment includes the role of Test engineer, but only a few software engineers have clear to become Test engineers (testers) because they have never had the chance to face this activities within the university study centers where they take study of this degree. Since there are little professional environments, this area is focused from a theoretical way instead of a more practical vision. There are plenty of tools helping the Test engineer, but most of them are paid tools or bespoke tools for big companies in need of this software. Usually people know what test engineering is by starting working on it and not before, when people start acquiring experience in this field within a company. Therefore, the degree studied have not approach this field of the Software engineering before and in some cases the graduated students start working without any knowledge in this area. Because of this reasons explained, it is my intention to propose this Project: a methodology and a software tool supporting this methodology so the students of software engineering and similar ones but also graduated students with little experience in this area (Junior Test Engineers), can afford practice in this field and get used to the activities related with the test engineering. Because of this they will be able to carry out the proper tasks of this area easier, enforcing higher and better knowledge and experience of it.

Análisis de algoritmos para posicionamiento de aeronaves mediante respuestas SSR utilizando recepción omnidireccional

El transporte aéreo constituye un sector estratégico para el crecimiento económico de cualquier país. El sistema de gestión de tráfico aéreo ATM tiene como objetivo el movimiento seguro y eficiente de las aeronaves dentro del espacio aéreo y de los aeropuertos, siendo la seguridad, en la fase táctica, gestionada por el servicio de control de la circulación aérea. Mediante los procesos de control el tráfico aéreo es vigilado a través de sensores, regulado y guiado de forma organizada y segura. Es precisamente sobre la vigilancia donde se enfoca el contenido de la tesis, en el desarrollo de nuevos conceptos que proporcionen información de vigilancia de ‘bajo coste’ basados en las señales existentes proporcionadas por la infraestructura actual de radar secundario y por los sistemas de posicionamiento basados en satélite que utiliza la ADS-B. El conocimiento y acceso en tiempo real a las trayectorias de las aeronaves es un elemento de valor añadido no sólo para la provisión de los servicios de control de tránsito aéreo, sino para todos los actores del transporte aéreo o de la investigación, siendo uno de los elementos clave en el concepto operacional de los dos grandes proyectos tecnológicos, SESAR en Europa y NextGen en EE.UU.. En las últimas décadas el control de la circulación aérea en espacios aéreos de media y alta densidad de tráfico se ha basado en tecnologías complejas que requieren importantes infraestructuras como son el radar primario de vigilancia (PSR) y el radar secundario de vigilancia (SSR). La filosofía de los programas SESAR y NextGen siguiendo las directrices de la OACI es la de alejarse de las tecnologías basadas en tierra para evolucionar hacia nuevas tecnologías más dinámicas basadas en satélite como la ADS-B. Pero hasta que la implementación y operación de la ADS-B sea completa, existirá un período de transición que implica la coexistencia de aeronaves equipadas o no con ADS-B. El objetivo de la presente Tesis es determinar las metodologías y algoritmos más adecuados para poder hibridar las dos tecnologías descritas anteriormente, utilizando para ello un receptor de bajo coste con antena estática omnidireccional, que analice todas las señales presentes en el canal que comparten el SSR y ADS-B. Mediante esta hibridación se podrá obtener la posición de cualquier aeronave que transmita respuestas a interrogaciones SSR, en cualquiera de sus modos de trabajo, o directamente mensajes de posición ADS-B. Para desarrollar los algoritmos propuestos, además del hardware correspondiente, se han utilizado las aplicaciones LabVIEW para funciones de adquisición de datos reales, y el software MATLAB® para el desarrollo de algoritmos y análisis de datos. La validación de resultados se ha realizado mediante los propios mensajes de posición ADS-B y a través de las trazas radar proporcionadas por la entidad pública empresarial ENAIRE. La técnica desarrollada es autónoma, y no ha requerido de ninguna otra entrada que no sea la recepción omnidireccional de las señales. Sin embargo para la validación de resultados se ha utilizado información pública de las ubicaciones de la red de estaciones SSR desplegadas sobre territorio español y portugués y trazas radar. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran, que con técnicas basadas en superficies de situación definidas por los tiempos de llegada de las respuestas, es posible determinar con una precisión aceptable la posición de las estaciones SSR y la posición de cualquier aeronave que responda mediante el Modo A a éstas. ABSTRACT Air transport is a strategic sector for the economic growth of any country. The air traffic management system (ATM) aims at the safe and efficient movement of aircraft while operating within the airspace and airports, where safety, in the tactical phase, is managed by the air traffic control services. Through the air traffic control processes, aircraft are monitored by sensors, regulated and guided in an organized and safe manner. It is precisely on surveillance where this thesis is focused, developing new concepts that provide a 'low cost' surveillance information based on existing signals provided by currently secondary radar infrastructure and satellite-based positioning systems used by ADS-B. Having a deeper knowledge and a real-time access to the trajectories of the aircraft, is an element of added value not only for the provision of air traffic control services, but also for all air transport or research actors. This is one of the key elements in the operational concept proposed by the two large scale existing technological projects, SESAR in Europe and NextGen in the US. In recent decades, air traffic control in medium and high traffic density areas has been based on complex technologies requiring major infrastructures, such as the primary surveillance radar (PSR) and secondary surveillance radar (SSR). The philosophy of SESAR and NextGen programs, both following the guidelines of ICAO, is to move away from land-based technologies and evolving into some new and more dynamic satellite-based technologies such as ADS-B. Nevertheless, until the ADS-B implementation and operation is fully achieved, there will be a transitional period where aircraft with and without ADS-B equipment will have to coexist. The main objective of this thesis is to determine those methodologies and algorithms which are considered more appropriate to hybridize those two technologies, by using a low cost omnidirectional receiver, which analyzes all signals on the SSR and ADS-B shared channel. Through this hybridization, it is possible to obtain the position of any aircraft answering the SSR interrogations, in any of its modes of operation, or through the emission of ADS-B messages. To develop the proposed algorithms, LabVIEW application has been used for real-time data acquisition, as well as MATLAB software for algorithm development and data analysis, together with the corresponding hardware. The validation of results was performed using the ADS-B position messages and radar tracks provided by the Public Corporate Entity ENAIRE The developed technique is autonomous, and it does not require any other input other than the omnidirectional signal reception. However, for the validation of results, not only radar records have been used, but also public information regarding the position of SSR stations spread throughout the Spanish and Portuguese territory. The results show that using techniques based in the definition of positioning surfaces defined by the responses’ times of arrival, it is possible to determine with an acceptable level of accuracy both the position of the SSR stations as well as the position of any aircraft which transmits Mode A responses.