Computer systems for real-time process control and supervision A framework for education based on a systems-engineering approach

Abstract

Computer systems for process control and supervision represent a huge problem complex with respect to analysis, design and use. They play an important role in the modern industrialized society. Therefore, it is necessary to educate engineers, at universities and in industry, in subjects important for design and use of such systems. To be able to understand how such a system is built up, a broad knowledge of all system parts as well as the process itself is required: the process - the local system - the communication system - the central system - the man-machine system - and the operator. This paper introduces a framework and a methodology based on a systems-engineering approach for undergraduate level courses in this important field.