Object-oriented modeling for integrated computer-aided process engineering: A software reuse approach

There are two major problems in realizing Integrated Computer Aided Process Engineering (ICAPE) systems and environments: object-oriented modeling of process engineering data, and integration of the existing stock of software for process engineering. This research investigates a novel approach based on software reuse to solve both problems.; The main contribution of this research is a new, software reuse approach to object-oriented modeling for integration, and a systematic software reuse methodology called "Reuse for object-orientation" or REO. The currently known object-oriented modeling methodologies prescribe development of a "universal" model for the application domain; thus they are practical only for new systems of limited scope. The REO methodology, on the contrary, provides a short-cut for deriving object-oriented models from the existing stock of software. The past and current research in software integration have examined the black box approach, wherein the tool is interfaced with its input and output only, and the glass box approach, wherein the tool is interfaced with its internal symbols, but used in as-is condition in its entirety. The REO methodology, on the contrary, provides an approach wherein only parts of a tool are used in an object-oriented system. Presently, the REO methodology covers two software components: programming language descriptions and program descriptions.; The "experimental" subject includes parts of ASPEN, a chemical process modeling and simulation system, that is over a decade old and has over a quarter (1/4) million lines of program code. An object-oriented model is derived for this subject by following the REO methodology, and based on it a prototypical ICAPE system called "Icape-91" is designed and implemented in an experimental object-oriented system.; This research has identified and developed a novel approach to software integration and object-oriented modeling; an approach based on software reuse. Software reuse is a generalization of software integration. Software reuse can help in deriving object-oriented models from the existing stock of software. Software reuse can significantly assist software developers working in the field of ICAPE and ICAE in general. The successes of this research should motivate development, aided by REO, of large scale ICAPE systems or environments.