ITR: Distributed Resource Planning of Process Networks

研究：这个信息技术（IT）研究-小项目的目标是为分布式建模、仿真和基于代理的优化开发一个框架。这样的系统将允许集成经典的过程系统工程工具，如过程建模、数值集成、优化和预测评估与ERP系统的分布式数据库功能。重点将放在利用分布式计算和跨连接计算单元网络的信息交换的解决方案策略上。该方法实现了速度、高质量的灵活性和健壮性，并且可以随问题的大小进行扩展。将处理两个具体问题：如何开发分布式过程网络的动态仿真方法；如何使用基于智能体的方法来解决具有时间和空间动态分布的大规模随机控制问题。研究中的一个关键问题是如何将建模和基于智能体的优化框架连接起来，从而优化过程网络的性能。更广泛的影响：企业资源规划（ERP）系统和其他IT工具允许公司几乎在瞬间通过网络访问、分析和传播大量的分布式信息。该项目可以帮助将业务IT与流程建模和优化的经典工具连接起来，这反过来又可以为美国工业带来巨大的商业利益。

Research:The goal of this Information Technology (IT) Research - Small project is to develop a framework for distributed modeling, simulation and agent based optimization. Such a system will permit the integration of classical process systems engineering tools, like process modeling, numerical integration, optimization and predictive evaluation with the distributed data base capabilities of ERP systems. The focus will be on solution strategies that take advantage of distributed computing and information exchange across a network of connected computational units. The approach achieves speed, quality flexibility, and robustness that scales favorably with problem size. Two specific problems will be addressed:1. How to develop methods for dynamic simulation of distributed process networks, and2. How to use agent based methods for solving large scale, stochastic control problems that have dynamics distributed in time and space.A key issue in the research will be how to interface the modeling and agent-based optimization frameworks in such a way that the performance of the process network is optimized. Broader Impact:Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and other IT tools allow companies to access, analyze and disseminate vast amounts of distributed information almost instantaneously over the web. This project could help interface business IT with classical tools for process modeling and optimization which in turn could be of great commercial benefit to US industry.