Concept and development of a semantic based data hub between process design and automation system engineering tools

This paper describes an innovative approach and infrastructure for a seamless data communication between CAE and automation systems' engineering tools. In this approach syntax, semantics and graphical representations of various CAE tools can be captured, analyzed, visualized and mapped to an intermediate syntax and semantic in a data hub. Different captures from different data sources can be merged together and analyzed in order to enrich the data in the hub. Achieved results can consequently be shaped and mapped to any target syntax and semantics in a sandbox environment in order to be exported from the hub. This approach allows a bidirectional data flow from multiple CAE data sources and automation systems by utilizing a multi-level mapping library. All the intakes and outcomes of the hub are managed by a web based version control system which can provide the delta view between different versions regardless of their origin syntax or semantics. By one pass of data between the source and the target, the persistent bridge in the hub is formed and this bridge will be enriched and enhanced by each further pass of data. A prototypic development have been performed and the complete communication cycle have been verified using a sample P&ID and signal list from various CAE tools and an outcome of AutomationML format compliant to ABB's engineering tool as the automation target system.