Performance Support Systems Group

P.S.S.G.

This research group seeks to apply modern architectural software structures to problems in complex plant control and operation. Using anthropomorphic approaches and those of distributed systems including agent orientation, blackboard-based communications' strategies, and co-operating processes, advances have been made in computer-based assistance to overloaded plant operators. With attention to the operator's mental model of problem solution, the cognitive analysis approach is leading to successful reduction of the current control milieu of data rich, information poor and knowledge nonexistant situations that lead to operator control error.

Staff

Dr.William J. Garland -- retired
Dr.W.F.Skip Poehlman -- Director

Dr.Simon Day -- McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR), Event Analyst.

Current Graduate Students

Please see AMIS as most of the focus has now been shifted to PSS's as applied to areas of health informatics. (wfsp/12nov09)

Past Graduate Students

Dr.David Gilbert -- Ph.D. programme, Electrical and Computer Engineering (WFSP: McMaster Nuclear Reactor Physics and Engineering Algebraic Mathematical compilation and dynamic numerical solutions to arbitrary formulae as guided by user control through distributed systems; support: NSERC Graduate Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Schoilarship, and individual (WFSP) NSERC Research Grant)

Dr.Asghar Bokhari -- Ph.D. C.S. programme, McMaster Computing and Software Dept.(CAS) WFSP/Thesis Topic: Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Development of Enterprise-wide Information Systems with agent-orientation and service oriented software architectures; support: MeRC and individual (WFSP) NSERC Research Grants.

Ms.Ruth Nichols -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP&G.Rockwell(Sch.o.Arts)/Thesis: "An Investigation into the Use of Skins for Information Filtering in Support of the Human Computer Interface", 106p. (May,2003) Accepted a position at Computing Information Services, McMaster University.

Dr.Rob Leger -- Ph.D. programme, Engineering Physics (WJG:McMaster Nuclear Reactor, intelligent statistical process control and trend analysis; support: NSERC Group Strategic Grant and individual NSERC Research Grants) Accepted a position at Atomic Energy Canada Ltd., Toronto.

Dr.Simon Day -- Ph.D. programme, Engineering Physics (WJG:McMaster Nuclear Reactor, reactor physics and thermohydraulic simulation codes; support: NSERC Group Strategic Grant and individual NSERC Research Grants,) Accepted a position at McMaster University Nuclear Reactor.

Mr.Bin Yao 1995-1998 -- M.Sc.(Comp.Sci./CAS) WFSP/Thesis:"An Investigation into Distributed Information Systems by Object Technology", 100p.(August,1998) Continuing at Sweda Canada as a software programmer.

Mr.Dave Gilbert (NSERC Scholar) Jan.1997-1999 -- M.Sc.,(CS/CAS) WFSP/Thesis:"Queues as Parallel and Distributed Abstract Data Types for Real World Application", 126p.(August,1999) Now in EE Ph.D. programme.

Mr.Yue Zhang 1997-1999 -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP:Thesis:"A Distributed Object-oriented Framework for Multi-Agent Systems", 116p. (September,1999) Accepted a position at Norhtrup-Grumman, Burlington, ON, a a design engineer.

Mr.Jack Xu 1998-2000 -- M.Eng.(CE/ECE) WFSP/Thesis:"A Prototype CORBA-based Performance Support System (PSS)", 76p. (Project: June,2000) Continuing as a software engineer at Nortel Networks in Toronto.

Mr.Razvan Simionescu (EP Scholar) 1998-2000 -- M.Eng.,(Comp.Sysyt./Engg.Phys.) WFSP&WJG/Thesis: "Iodine-125 Monitoring and Advising System for the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR)", 112p. (July,2000) Now in Ph.D. EE programme at Carleton University, Ottawa.

Mr.Bing Jiang Jan.1998-2000 -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP&J.Zucker/Thesis: "A Framework for Dynamic Knowledge Exchange Among Intelligent JESS Agents", 84p. (September,2000) Accepted a position at Motorola, Chicage, USA as a software engineer.

Mr.Vernon Walling (Commonwealth Scholar) 1998-2000 -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP/Thesis:"Mobile IP and AODV in Multi-Hop Wireless ad hoc Network", 123p. (September,2000) Accepted a position at Motorola, Chicage, USA as a software engineer. .

6. Ms.Wendy Wang 1998-2000 -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP/Thesis:"A Performance Study of JINI as a Base for Information Systems", 94p. (September,2000) Housewife in Delaware, USA..

Mr.Yusupha Touray (Commonwealth Scholar) Jan.1999-Dec.2000 -- M.Eng.,(CE/ECE) WFSP/Thesis: "Supporting mobile IP in a Multi-hop Wireless Ad Hoc Networks", 102p. (December,2000) Accepted a position at Motorola, Chicage, USA as a software engineer. .

Ms.Diane Mairs-Ingram (Commonwealth Scholar) 1999-2001 -- M.Sc.(CS/CAS) WFSP/Thesis: "A Performance Analysis and Investigation of the Service Location Protocol Employed for Dynamic Service Discovery", 123p. (September,2001) Accepted a position at Alcatel, Ottawa, as a software engineer. .