Building Information Systems Research Articles

Building Data Storage Systems And Data Networks To Support Digital Microscopy

Abstract As laboratories like the Materials Analysis User Center (MAUC) in the High Temperature Materials Laboratory, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory move from analog to digital imaging systems, the process for acquiring, processing, analyzing, and publishing research results is changing. In this case since original scientific data exist only in digital form, analog systems for gathering, staring, and transmitting data are being set aside in favor of digital systems. In order to adequately protect original scientific data and to ensure that digital laboratories have the same (or greater) functionality as analog laboratories, scientists must focus on building information systems that make data highly available, highly reliable, and quickly accessible. Meeting these three objectives imposes special requirements for both data storage systems and data networks.

Building data storage systems and data networks to support digital microscopy

As laboratories like the Materials Analysis User Center (MAUC) in the HTML at ORNL move from analog to digital imaging systems, the process for acquiring, processing, analyzing, and publishing research results is changing. In this case since original scientific data exist only in digital form, analog systems for gathering, storing, and transmitting data are being set aside in favor of digital systems. In order to adequately protect original scientific data and to ensure that digital laboratories have the same (or greater) functionality as analog laboratories, scientists must focus on building information systems that make data highly available, highly reliable, and quickly accessible. Meeting these three objectives imposes special requirements for both data storage systems and data networks. A data storage system for a digital microscopy laboratory must have a very large capacity (at MAUC, 30 GB). In addition, the data stored within the system must be highly available and highly reliable.

The Building of a Geographical Information System, Using Field Observations and Remotely Sensed Imagery, to Extract Geographical Information of the Area Around Ballıhisar (Pessinus) in Central Anatolia

The Building of a Geographical Information System, Using Field Observations and Remotely Sensed Imagery, to Extract Geographical Information of the Area Around Ballıhisar (Pessinus) in Central Anatolia

Enhancing database management to knowledge base management: The role of information retrieval technology

In recent years, there has been an enhancement from database management to knowledge base management. In this article, we investigate an important, yet not widely addressed issue: the role of information retrieval in this enhancement. Central to our investigation is to develop techniques of building information systems which are able to extract and store information from texts so that the stored information can be combined to satisfy unanticipated queries. Success of such techniques will have important practical impact on the automatic construction of knowledge bases from documents, thus reducing the knowledge acquisition bottleneck. We argue that this is not a task which can simply be reduced to database management through logic-based approaches (such as deductive databases), and explore an approach to achieve this by extending classical information retrieval techniques. An experiment has been carried out to implement a conceptual model for storage and retrieval of integrating short scientific documents (written in restricted English) using unstructured relational databases. This article does not address the issues dealing with general information retrieval; instead, by restricting our focus on the problem investigated, we have gained some insight on the relationship between information retrieval and database management, as well as the relationship between information retrieval and knowledge base management.

Effective information delivery systems: what's the secret?

This paper takes the view that the design of information systems which both do the job they were designed for and are culturally acceptable is rare, and that the problem does not lie squarely at the door of unreliable technology or bad systems design. The number of methodologies available which are intended to enable us to design and build information systems has grown rapidly over the last decade or so; one of the outcomes of this is a number of highly structured and mechanistic formulae which assume that people know from the outset what information they want, where they want it to go and how they want it to be delivered. This paper argues that this general assumption is false and has resulted in inadequate and inflexible information systems which quickly assume dinosaur status, or which are rejected by users. A common prerequisite of such methodologies is that a problem has been defined (which the eventual system will solve), and that the organisational and cultural context within which the problem exists is agreed and understood. This is of course sometimes the case but it should not be assumed to be generally true. The view is taken here that more effective information systems are designed when some time is spent at the beginning of the analysis exploring the environment in which the system will operate, and account is taken of the possibly different views of this which may be held by people who work within the situation. Additionally, distinctions need to be made between what information is needed and how it will be delivered. This could be viewed as an important distinction between information and communication systems which has to be understood before organisations can make expensive procurement decisions about communications technology and hardware. The outcome of this process would be an analysis of information requirements using models which were closer to agreed views of the situation. It could also of course usefully generate debate about desired changes to current systems and therefore would be more likely to result in the design of information systems which matched organisational strategy and development. Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology is examined as a useful methodology to use in this context. Its fundamental features are described and examples of models are shown to demonstrate how the methodology can facilitate analysis of communication requirements.

Risk Expectation Management for Building Secure Information Systems

AbstractThis paper describes the process of building Information Systems that integrate security mechanisms to protect from unauthorized access and mistreatment Risk expectation management for information systems is associated with security requirements‐policy‐architecture‐risk analysis and synthesis. Cognizance of threat is the most important part of developing secure information systems. The paper organizes the complexity of information security principles into a structured approach intended to minimize the expected security risk. An example is presented in the appendix.

A pragmatic approach to computer-assisted system building

An approach and a set of tools are provided for integral computer support of information system building. They are based on and integrate such currently popular techniques as structured analysis and entity relationship modeling. Additional components are provided that complement and formalize these approaches and allow for automatic generation of code.

Integrative approaches to building information systems for software engineering environments

Designing an information management system for software engineering environments is often done according to integrative approaches. An integrative approach consists of connecting and facilitating communication between systems that already exist (subsystems) but satisfy only partially the requirements for information and data repositories and management system for software engineering environments. Three integrative approaches are considered here: (a) the creation of a new system whose functions sit on top of those performed by its subsystems; (b) the creation of a system that unifies the functions performed by its subsystems; and (c) the designing of a system which is not going to be very visible to the user but is hidden under the previously existing subsystems. Each of these approaches is illustrated by a project which is briefly described and analysed. Advantages and disadvantages of the systems built within these projects are outlined in order to compare the three corresponding integrative approaches to information management systems for software engineering.

Parallels between Object-Oriented Software Development and Total Quality Management

The object-oriented (OO) approach to building information systems, if applied correctly, can greatly enhance the quality of the finished software product. This emphasis on greater quality is paralleled by the management philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM). Based on the common theme of ‘quality’, parallels are drawn between the OO and TQM philosophies in order to optimize on the benefits to quality software engineering offered by the object-oriented approach.

Parallels between object-oriented software development and total quality management

The object-oriented (OO) approach to building information systems, if applied correctly, can greatly enhance the quality of the finished software product. This emphasis on greater quality is paralleled by the management philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM). Based on the common theme of ‘quality’, parallels are drawn between the OO and TQM philosophies in order to optimize on the benefits to quality software engineering offered by the object-oriented approach.

The application of SSADM to modelling the logical structure of proteins

A logical design that describes the overall structure of proteins, together with a more detailed design describing secondary and some supersecondary structures, has been constructed using the computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool, Auto-mate. Auto-mate embodies the philosophy of the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) which enables the logical design of computer systems. Our design will facilitate the building of large information systems, such as databases and knowledgebases in the field of protein structure, by the derivation of system requirements from our logical model prior to producing the final physical system. In addition, the study has highlighted the ease of employing SSADM as a formalism in which to conduct the transferral of concepts from an expert into a design for a knowledge-based system that can be implemented on a computer (the knowledge-engineering exercise). It has been demonstrated how SSADM techniques may be extended for the purpose of modelling the constituent Prolog rules. This facilitates the integration of the logical system design model with the derived knowledge-based system.

The odd couple: Formal Notations and the development of information systems

The development of information systems and the introduction of formal notations have tended to be taught as separate subjects. In this paper we hope we show that it is both possible and desirable to place formal notations in the context of systems analysis and design. By adopting an essentially pragmatic approach we feel that we have, to some extent, bridged the gap between the world of theoretical mathematics and the practical task of building information systems.

The odd couple: Formal Notations and the development of information systems

The development of information systems and the introduction of formal notations have tended to be taught as separate subjects. In this paper we hope we show that it is both possible and desirable to place formal notations in the context of systems analysis and design. By adopting an essentially pragmatic approach we feel that we have, to some extent, bridged the gap between the world of theoretical mathematics and the practical task of building information systems.

Classification and syntax of constraints in binary semantical networks

We use binary semantical networks to design or to build information systems. A good system should have a good conceptual scheme with well-defined constraints. This article classifies the constraints and defines their syntax so that there is a clear and easy way to express constraints. The constraints language is a generalization of graphical constraints. This article is based on a former article of the author ( Proceedings of the New Generation Computers Conference) and a Control Data DMRL Report by R. Meersman (1982). Examples come mostly from the hospital case of De Brock and Remmen.

Building Information Systems in the Islamic World. Ziauddin Sardar

<i>Building Information Systems in the Islamic World</i>. Ziauddin Sardar

Adaptation of Information Systems Building Blocks to Design Forces

:The paper establishes a generic definition of all information systems. The basis of this definition includes six building blocks. The focus of this paper is how these building blocks must adapt to ten design forces for the development of successful information systems.

The role of digital cartographic data in the geosciences

The increasing demand of the Nation's natural resource developers for the manipulation, analysis, and display of large quantities of earth-science data has necessitated the use of computers and the building of geoscience information systems. These systems require, in digital form, the spatial data on map products. The basic cartographic data shown on quadrangle maps provide a foundation for the addition of geological and geophysical data. If geoscience information systems are to realize their full potential, large amounts of digital cartographic base data must be available. A major goal of the U.S. Geological Survey is to create, maintain, manage, and distribute a national cartographic and geographic digital database. This unified database will contain numerous categories (hydrography, hypsography, land use, etc.) that, through the use of standardized data-element definitions and formats, can be used easily and flexibly to prepare cartographic products and perform geoscience analysis.

Health Care Reorganization and Information System Building in Italy

Adapting the health care information systems to the evolving needs of prevention and decentralization generally implies a critical choice of the most suitable among existing technical solutions and, in some cases, also the demand for new methods of information organization and processing which respond better to such new needs.This is especially true for Italy, for its present process of the construction of a National Health Service gives priority to primary prevention and decentralization to local authorities not merely of operational functions, but also of power in decision-making. Consequences of these choices are, first of all, the need to review this National Statistical System but also, at a local level, more weight on a specific form of a &gt;system of experts&lt;, the limiting of data banks to small geographic and administrative areas and serious criticism of computer-based population files.

Computer Applications in Construction Management

Traditional methods in construction lacking an organized and systematic approach are inadequate, and often lead to inefficiency and waste. Sophisticated information and data handling capabilities of an electronic computer offer many helpful ways to produce a better control in construction management of projects for less money. Computer applications in design phase of the project are very helpful. During construction phase of the project, computer serves as a powerful tool in organizing the three major areas: logistics and material, contract administration, and project scheduling and cost control. Future promises greater research in building information systems.