Integrating power plant computer-aided engineering applications using a single data model

In December 1986, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) completed a 2 1/2-year project entitled guidelines for specifying integrated computer-aided engineering applications for electric power plants. The author describes the guidelines, which enable electric utility engineers to prepare specifications for integrated computer-aided engineering (CAE) applications. This integration is based on a single data model, which identifies common data requirements across the spectrum of generating plant activities from site selection through plant decommissioning. The guidelines also provide for integration of the utilities data with data from other companies. The author examines the background of this project and discusses the information engineering principles involved and other concepts involved.<>