Co-evolution and reuse of automation control and simulation software: Identification and definition of modification actions and strategies

Industrial plants are multi-disciplinary systems that are operated for multiple decades. Changes in these systems are consequently indispensable, making appropriate mechanisms for managing co-evolution of engineering documentation necessary. In this paper, a co-evolution model for control and simulation software is introduced. Typical evolution categories and modification strategies for enabling co-evolution of automation control and simulation software are derived and formally defined. Using description logics, the identification of these complex modification strategies based on atomic modification actions is made possible.