DICTUM: decision support system for analysis and synthesis of large-scale industrial systems. Part I: Components

Abstract This paper presents an interactive model-based decision support system (DSS) for the analysis and synthesis of large-scale chemical process and related systems. The computerized DSS dictum (Decision support Instrument for Chemical Technology Using Multicriteria approach), which was developed for supporting such complex decisions, includes the following main elements: (i) an information system consisting of data banks and database management systems; (ii) a flexible model generating system for formulating system models which describe individual system structures or variants under study at different hierarchical and aggregation levels; (iii) a simulation and multicriteria optimization system for calculatin of material, energy and environmental balances and streams, economic/ energetic/ecologic evaluation and for optimizing structures and control policies in terms of structural, design and control variables and user's goals; (iv) an intelligent user interface for an attractive communication between the user and the DSS (mainly a menu-driven approach); (v) modules for the interpretation and analysis of the results and for report generation.