An implementation methodology and software tool for an entropy based engineering model for evolving systems
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Authors
Behnke, Matthew J.
Subjects
Advisors
Shing, Mantak
Date of Issue
2003-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis presents a practical method for calculating and representing entropy-based metrics for a set of bibliographic records evolving over time, in support of Dr. Michael Saboe's dissertation research which addressed the ability to measure software technology transfer. The implementation of the analysis methodology for determining the information-temperature of evolving datasets containing bibliographic records is described. The information-temperature metric is based on information entropy and is used to relate the maximum complexity of a system to the current complexity. The implementation of the analysis methodology required using data mining techniques to prepare the datasets. Additionally, since the information-temperature metric derived from Saboe's work was a new emerging concept, the data analysis methodology had to be refined several times in order to obtain the desired results. An iterative software development paradigm was used to write the application in 3 iterations using Visual Basic. At the end of the implementation the data analysis process became systemized allowing the outlining of the steps to compute the temperature of datasets, and it is estimated that the learning curve of the analysis can be reduced by 50 percent through integration and packing of the analysis functions into a stand-alone application with an intuitive user interface.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Software Engineering
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
xiv, 326 p. : col. ill. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.