Software Design Tools Research Articles

METASCAPES | ARCHITECTURAL QUESTS IN THE METAVERSE

The paper investigates the appropriateness of CAAD software and computational design tools for the creation of metaverse content along with the workflows and limitations involved. In parallel the research aims to assess the validity of architecture design studio research in the context of the metaverse, and its capability to produce results that justify further explorations in such direction.

Towards the automation of book typesetting

This paper proposes a generative approach for the automatic typesetting of books in desktop publishing. The presented system consists in a computer script that operates inside a widely used design software tool and implements a generative process based on several typographic rules, styles and principles which have been identified in the literature. The performance of the proposed system is tested through an experiment which included the evaluation of its outputs with people. The results reveal the ability of the system to consistently create varied book designs from the same input content as well as visually coherent book designs with different contents while complying with fundamental typographic principles.

Robotic Park: Multi-Agent Platform for Teaching Control and Robotics

Multi-agent system research is a hot topic in different application domains. In robotics, multi-agent robot systems (MRS) can realize complex tasks even if the behavior of each individual agent seems simple thanks to the cooperation between them. Although many control algorithms for MRS are proposed, few experimental results are validated on real data, being essential to building new testbeds to conduct MRS research and teaching. Moreover, most existing platforms for experimentation do not offer an overall solution allowing software and hardware design tools. This paper describes the design and operation of Robotic Park, a new indoor experimental platform for research in multi-agent systems. The heterogeneity and flexibility of its configuration are two of its main features. It supports control strategies design and validation of MRS algorithms. Experiences can be carried out in a virtual environment, in a physical environment, or under a hybrid scheme, as digital twins have been developed in Gazebo and Webots. Currently, two types of aerial vehicles, the Crazyflie 2.X and the DJI Tello, are available. It also includes two types of differential mobile robots, the Turtlebot3 and the Khepera IV. Both internal and external positioning systems using different technologies such as Motion Capture or Ultra-WideBand are also available for experiences. All components are connected through ROS2 (Robot Operating System 2) which enables experiences under a centralized, distributed, or hybrid scheme, and different communication strategies can be implemented. A mixed reality experience that addresses the problem of formation control using event-based control illustrates the platform usage.

Providing Heterogeneous Signaling and User Traffic for 5G Core Network Functional Testing

In the next 10 years, the telecommunications sector will be dominated by the deployment of pervasive networking available in a wide range of heterogeneous scenarios applying 5G (and beyond) technologies. SDN, NFV as well as Network Sliding Technologies used by 5G will provide a “softwarization” of the network functional elements, opening the ecosystem of network providers to a vast number of suppliers from traditional manufacturers to start-ups focusing on specialized functions. Due to the need to assert the expected interoperability of the introduction and evolution of this set of Network Functions, a set of validation tools is needed to explore traffic patterns according to different scenarios and thus allow the performance of the software modules to be evaluated. This research work presents the design of software tools that aim to provide a way for generating signaling and user traffic in 5G networks, enabling the definition of novel pure-software testing environments for 5G that includes real signaling and user traffic. The tools have been designed to support a set of testing signaling procedures that cover the basic main functioning of 5G networks and that allow for the transmission of user traffic over the network. The tools have been implemented and licensed as Open Source and have been validated through their deployment in a virtualized 5G environment that includes a 5G core network.

Desktop-Based Office Stationery Management Information System Using Visual Basic at the Rancaekek DTP Health Center, Bandung Regency

The management system at the Rancaekek DTP Health Center is still processed manually, so it is less effective and efficient. Officers are still experiencing difficulties in collecting data. The purpose of this research is to facilitate the management of office stationery. The result of this study is a desktop-based office stationery management information system application at the Rancaekek DTP Public Health Center in Bandung Regency. The data processing method in this study used qualitative and the waterfall software development method, with Analysis and Design tools using UML (Unified Modeling Language), language visual basic programming and Microsoft Access database. The developed application is informative. Login and password will ensure data confidentiality and an attractive interface. We hope this application can speed up the process of managing office stationery and reduce errors of using a manual system, so that reports can be properly accounted.

Improving Skills in Batik Design through Digital Application for a Pesantren Community in Jombang

This community engagement aims to improve skills in batik design through digital applications. Islamic boarding school or also known as pesantren is Indonesia’s oldest religious educational institution. Along with rapid industry advancements, such a school is expected to follow the development by creating innovations with commercial and representative value. Based on this motivation, a training program on design software and blog-based online publishing tools for beginners is given to the students in Babussalam Pesantren, Jombang Regency, Indonesia. The idea of batik is discussed in this article as a part of the entrepreneurial knowledge and skill at the pesantren, preparing the students for future entrepreneurship. This community project consists of two kinds of training—(1) designing batik with an innovative and contemporary pattern using a software application such as CorelDRAW and (2) designing and commercializing the batik product using free publishing online platforms such as Blogger or Blogspot, as the widely known domain. The participants are 28 high school students aged 16–18 years old, including 14 male and 14 female students. To observe the process of learning, pre- and post-questionnaires were conducted. The results show that 84% and 89% of students have not used CorelDRAW and blog-based media before, respectively. However, after the training, the students show enthusiasm, with 73% expressing interest and 63% wanting to deepen their knowledge of CorelDRAW design. Furthermore, 27% of students show interest in blog design and 37% want to learn further. Hopefully, with this entrepreneurship training, pesantren students are ready and confidently enter the business community.

Parametric Hypercell Mechanism for Adaptive Building Skin: A Case Study in New Administrative Capital, Egypt

The majority of the curtain wall (glazed) facades architectural proposals in the Middle East are double-skin facades with static structures such as utilizing the passive control method to respond to routine or normal conditions of weather. Nevertheless, the microclimate around the building changes dynamically and unpredictably. The study discusses, analyzes, and focuses on the role of designing dynamic parametric adaptive patterns in architecture. Therefore, the problem is how to use the methods of active control technology that could support more versatile interactive features to respond to the variance of climate conditions using parametric design software tools such as Rhino/Grasshopper programs that allow variable geometry to design the adaptive dynamic patterns to obtain thermal comfort inside buildings. The main objective of this study is to create a framework that provides a design strategy of a

Holistic Approach to Ship Design

The recently completed Horizon 2020 European Research project—HOLISHIP—Holistic Optimization of Ship Design and Operation for Life Cycle (2016–2020) has developed suitable tools and software platforms which are necessary for the creation of innovative design solutions meeting the set low-emission strategic objectives. The present paper introduces an innovative, holistic approach to ship design and the development of integrated design software platforms and tools, which are used in practical applications. In the era of the 4th industrial revolution, this project sets out to substantially advance ship design via the introduction of a fully computerized, multi-disciplinary optimization approach to ship design and life-cycle operation. The approach enables the exploration of a huge design space in a relatively short time, as well as the distributed/multi-site working and the virtual reality testing; thus, it is a strong asset for the development of innovative maritime concepts in response to the needs of the 21st century.

Digitalization of climate adaptation planning: the potential of simulation software tools for landscape design

Climate change plays a significant role in the landscape architecture discipline seeking to solve the problems related to floods and heatwaves. Climate adaptation planning deals with a high level of uncertainty while precipitating future climate events to prepare adaptable landscape designs. However, digital technologies are rarely implemented into landscape design projects with deep environmental concerns. Meanwhile, digital tools have the potential to improve climate adaptation planning while calculating and simulating the adaptive capacity of design. Therefore, this research investigates the capabilities and limitations of software tools suitable for climate adaptation projects. The software tools are evaluated using the ISO 25010 framework comparing their capabilities. The main method used for this research is based on objective experiments while implementing different software tools to conceptual landscape design on a case study project. The experiment revealed that the implementation process deals with many limitations including interoperability and data loss. Moreover, this research conducted in-depth interviews with project stakeholders including planners and clients to identify their problems, needs and expectations regarding software tools. Finally, the roadmap on the software selection resulting from this research provides the guidelines on how to select the most suitable tool for various climate adaptation projects.

3-dimensional printing of PLA scaffolds for medical applications

Scaffolds encourage the new tissue formation through biological substitution of the damaged or lost tissues. Therefore, scaffold characteristics become more important and should be precisely controlled. Production of scaffolds using a three dimensional (3d) printer appears as a promising method in terms of enabling homogeneous pore distribution and uniform pore size arrangement. In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold structures were obtained through 3d printing, based on the design parameters such as the scaffold geometry, porosity (%), pore shape, pore size, and the pore interconnectivity. An open source computer-aided design (CAD) program (Interface Scaffold) was employed to design the PLA scaffolds. Scaffold structures with ~72% porosity were generated through a 3D Systems Cube 2nd Generation 3d printer. The design parameters have been optimized by the scaffold design software tool, which includes different unit cells, i.e. Schwartz P, Schwartz D, Gyroid, Skeletal (1-4), Neovius and W (iWP) for designing scaffold structures through mathematical formulations. It was found out that the mean pore size of the 3d-printed Gyroid unit cell scaffolds vary between 1.9 mm and ~4.54 mm according to the microstructural observations done by a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

USE OF SW TOOL TO SUPPORT TEACHING TECHNICAL SUBJECTS

Software tool for beam design was invented for educational purposes. SW Tool is based on standard formulas enhanced by Ashby’s theory. It is therefore a SW tool for structural design of profiles, considering its stability and enabling shape optimization for the most efficient use of the material. SW Tool is specialized to help the students evaluate suitable profile quickly and easily. This article deals with a software tool that is used for educational purposes and was tested in practice as a part of a university subject. The goal was to verify on several assignments, whether students are able to use this new software tool, and collect data about their approach and results. All the data were compared and evaluated. The evaluation showed that the software tool is user-friendly and students can use them immediately without any problems.

Extraction of lutein/zeaxanthin from Arthrospira Platensis and optimisation of the saponification process using the response surface methodology

ABSTRACT This study explores the extraction of lutein and zeaxanthin from Arthrospira Platensis (spirulina), with traditional protocols as a reference and response surface methodology as a tool for optimisation. An enhanced extraction procedure was developed for obtaining higher lutein concentration. The extraction process is further optimised using the central composite method, with the aid of design software tools. Methanol was used as the extracting solvent in a fixed ratio with dry spirulina powder. Saponification and hydrolysis using KOH, water and ethyl acetate/dichloromethane were done for isolating lutein and zeaxanthin from its ester. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry was used for analysing the absorbance of the lutein sample at a wavelength of 445 nm. Using the Response Surface Methodology, trials of various combinations are run for finding optimum conditions of saponification. The major variables were reaction time, reaction temperature and concentration of KOH. Temperature range of 45–75°C, the reaction time of 45–70 min and KOH concentrations ranging from 2% to 10% are observed as the optimum range. The sample is filtered using a PVDF membrane and stored in acetone or isopropyl alcohol.

Formation of software design skills among software engineering students

The study focuses on one of the mobile-oriented environment competence components for software engineering (SE) students. It has been demonstrated that the implementation of the higher education standard for SE bachelors has generated a number of issues in terms of ensuring training quality, principally due to a lack of specification for both skills and learning outcomes. Designing a precise framework of professional competencies for SE bachelors is one method to overcome these issues. The research examines methods for developing K14 (the ability to participate in software design, including modeling (formal description) of its structure, behavior, and working processes), a critical particular professional competency for future software engineers. Recommendations for software design teaching techniques, learning content, modeling and design tools, and assessment of the level of formation of relevant competence are developed based on a historical and genetic review of software design training among SE students in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The industrial-style software design training (studio training) is used as an example. The transition from architectural to detailed design, as well as project implementation, are discussed. The study's future prospects include substantiating the third engineering component of SE – software construction (after requirements engineering and design engineering).

Monitoring concept for powder flow monitoring in Laser-Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) process based on flexible piezoelectric sensors

Background: The quality of powder-blown Laser-Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) is mainly governed by the energy density per unit of mass employed to melt the material. In most of the previous works, the focus in process monitoring and control was on the control of energy input, by controlling the properties of the melt pool. However, the powder mass input is as important to monitor as the energy input, in order to preserve the equilibrium of the process. Methods: In this paper, the authors present the first test results of the Pyzoflex® sensor for powder flow monitoring in L-DED using real powder feeding system in the robot-based laser-processing cell. The sensor was tested against the powder projected from the powder feeder under typical flow regimes and the real-time measurements were taken using a specifically designed software tool. Results: The graphical representation of the registered sensor signals are clearly correlated with the powder flow values set at the powder feeder, which demonstrates that the piezoelectric sensors can detect the powder flow with elevated precision in real time. Conclusions: The first laboratory tests of flexible printed piezoelectric sensors demonstrate that they are fast and precise in the powder flow measurement, but that more effort must be invested in the robustness of the measurement setup as well as in clearing and stabilization of the registered signal.

Parameter Study of Geometrically Induced Flow Maldistribution in Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

Abstract Shell and tube heat exchangers (STHEs) are the most common type of heat exchanger in preheat trains (PHT) of oil refineries and in chemical process plants. Most commercial design software tools for STHE assume uniform distribution over all tubes of a tube bundle. This leads to various challenges in the operation of the affected devices. Flow maldistribution reduces heat duty of STHE in many applications and supports fouling buildup in fluids that tend to particle, bio, and crystallization fouling (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, ed., 2010, Heat Atlas, 2nd ed., VDI-Buch., Springer-Verlag). In this article, a fluid mechanics study about tube side flow distribution of crude oil and related hydrocarbons in two-pass PHT heat exchangers is described. It is shown that the amount of flow maldistribution varies significantly between the different STHE designs. Therefore, a parameter study was conducted to investigate reasons for maldistribution. For instance, the nozzles diameter, type, and orientation were identified as crucial parameters. In consequence, simple design suggestions for reducing tube side flow maldistribution are proposed.

Data Mining Software Tools and Methodologies for VLSI Design

Modern VLSI design process employs numerous EDA tools to produce large-size report files. It is time consuming as well as the possibility to miss some violations from EDA report files. We developed two data mining software tools targeting for the timing, noise and power grid analysis report files in one high-performance SOC design project. The software extracts, sorts and displays the key information from EDA report files into HTML forms, which can be viewed by designers using the web browser. Organization of EDA report files, configure files, program execution flows and output HTML forms are described for the developed data mining software tools.

Energy Sustainability of a Cluster of Buildings with the Application of Smart Grids and the Decentralization of Renewable Energy Sources

The optimal design of a building and city, including the balance of their energy performance, must include requirements from a wide range of areas, especially electrical engineering, informatics, technical equipment of buildings, construction and architecture, psychology and many other fields. It is the optimal design, simulation and modelling that are most reflected in the energy requirements of buildings while meeting the requirements of energy sustainability. The impact of buildings and cities on the environment is crucial and unmistakable. It should be emphasized that an inappropriately (architecturally or technologically) designed building with state-of-the-art control technology will still have worse properties than an optimally designed building without a control system. This inspired us to design a building energy model (BEM) with the implementation of a Smart Grid in a decentralized sustainable energy system, which is a microgrid from renewable energy sources (RES). This inspired us to conduct an analysis of simulation models (simultaneous simulations) to show the possibility of their application in the process of fully satisfying energy needs in a given urban region. The main goal is to design an original methodology for the design of smart “Nearly Zero Energy Buildings” (NZEB) and subsequent energy sustainability solutions. This led us to use Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER), PV*SOL (2D solar software design tool for the photovoltaic system performance), Monte Carlo and DesignBuilder. The EMB was designed based on the Six Sigma design quality management methodology. In the process of integrating Smart Grids with energy efficiency solutions for buildings, an original optimization basis was designed for smart buildings and smart urban areas. The proposed EMB was verified in an experiment.

A software tool for blade design

An interactive software tool for blade design of axial flow machines was created. It is written as an extension module to the open-source software FreeCAD. In its graphical interface, the user can modify the blade profiles, stack them to create the whole blade and generate end walls and other stage features. Or everything can be controlled by a simple Python script. Results can be saved as STEP file or STL mesh and export to a mesh generator and CFD solver. Blade profiles are given by a set of parameters describing Bézier curves, the blade is represented by b-spline surfaces. Up to now, the tool helps the designer to find the right shapes by a 1D method, which evaluates the velocity triangles and the state variables through the machine stage on a mean line (mean radius) from the given design parameters (mass flow, total states in front of the stage, rotational speed etc.) and distribute them along the radius from the hub to the tip. The CFD results of a sample designed stage are included.

A Review on Computational Software Tools for Drug Design and Discovery

In the current era of modern drug design & development via computer-aided drug design, the potential role of computational software tools is widely enlarged in use. Computer-based drug design is revolutionary in the new drug discovery process because these processes are fast, time, and cost-saving with more efficient pharmacological activity. Computer-Based drug design is mainly applied for the drug-design and gets many successes in new drug research. There is plenty of software available in drug design; however; still, many issues are rising during its use. To clarify these issues, an attempt has been provided here in this article about the information about worldwide used 189 computation tools along with citation of software tools, download links, computer operative system and application of tools for available software such as Molecular modeling, docking, proteins conformation, pharmacophore mapping, ADMET, Docking pose visualization, force field calculation, homology modeling, 3D structure generator, Computational Crystallography, protein Database, and calculation software. This vital information enlightens all the software right from old to a recent one. Review article important for choice and application of wide-reaching used Drug Design software.©2022iGlobal Research and PublishingFoundation. All rights reserved.

Lumped-Parameter Equivalent Circuit Modeling of CMUT Array Elements

Design and modeling are key steps in the value chain of Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) arrays. Although CMUT array element models are very powerful, most of them are still limited in their use as tools for electronic design assistance. The electroacoustic equivalent circuits developed are mainly based on a distributed-element approach while lumped-parameter electrical circuits are better suited for electronic software design tools interoperations. To meet this need, the present study aims to implement an electroacoustic equivalent scheme of a full array element, based on a two-port network representation made of lumped-parameters. After an extensive bibliographical review of CMUT models, the new model is set-up from a fully distributed approach using Foldy’s electroacoustic definitions at the element level. Transmit and receive modes are implemented using scalar equations given by the lumped parameters. Moreover, based on a reciprocity analysis, the performance of the complete measurement chain in emission and reception will be defined using the relevant transfer functions. Finally, to help one design CMUT array elements for a given application, a method based on the computation of membranes thickness-size master curves is proposed. The two-port network representation of a full CMUT-based array element allowed by the new lumped-parameter modeling opens a wide range of possibilities regarding array design, electronic integration, operations with acoustic propagation simulation tools and more.