Virtual Laboratory for Modeling Systems: A Sustainable Approach

Abstract

This paper discusses, first, the use of a research project as a didactic material for laboratory practices. The objective of TOLLA project (http://tolla.upc.edu) is to develop ecological models for simulate the behaviour of environmental variables (phytoplankton, zooplankton, nutrients, egestion…) in a set of ponds in the Technical University Campus. This experience will be shifted to the classroom in form of laboratory practices for the subjects related with simulation and modelling in different engineering degrees, because we have the belief that undergraduate students must receive an Education for the Sustainability independently of their career. The paper also discusses the use of Easy Java Simulations software to implement the models, their views and the simulations, in an easy-to-use and interactive programming environment that generates standalone Java applications or applets, or in conjunction with Matlab/Simulink.

AIP-Primeca RAO Remote Laboratories in Automation

“…The middleware initially written in Java for template management and PHP for its Human Machine Interface will be provided as web services to form a global homogeneous application. Templates are coded in OWL 9 Web Ontology language. Protégé 10 software is used to edit templates.…”

“…[7] and [8]. These simulations can be run directly on client host (learner computer) such as with Easy Java Simulation [9] but we could envisage server-side simulations when specific software or calculus power are required and not easily available on client side. Their main advantages are their scalability (no direct limitation of concurrent users) and their main drawback is that it is not a real system : it is a relatively realistic model of a real system.…”

“…See http://www.reload.ac.uk/ldeditor.html7 See http://www.lamsinternational.com/ 8 See http://coppercore.sourceforge.net/9 See http://www.w3.org/TR/owl-features/10 See http://protege.stanford.edu/…”

Remote laboratories: AIP-Primeca RAO platform

“…V-Labs are based on simulations of real systems or phenomena. These simulations can be run directly on client host such as with Easy Java Simulation [11]. R-Lab and V-Lab Human Machine Interfaces are often supplied by commercial software such as LabView [2] or Matlab+Simulink [8], or by specifically designed software such as for [1].…”