Modeling

Dr. Hesse unlocks the firepower of Excel for Quantitative Analysis purposes. Using combinations of functions and functionality, he shows you how to perform decision analysis, linear programming and a host of other advanced business decision tools using the same simple spreadsheet platform that most people use for simple addition. True, it may not be the EASIEST read in the world, but using Dr. Hesse's methods could save you from purchasing dedicated analysis software that you may not need. DEFINITELY worth a look...

This unique book fills a much needed void in data architecture and system design. Reference data is too often done as an afterthought when data architecture starts taking form. Worse, it is too often misused, resulting in no clear boundaries between transaction data structures and real reference data.

Mr. Chisholm starts with definitions of what reference data is, and what it is not. He defines reference data as data that is used to categorize, classify, or otherwise qualify or constrain transaction data. In other words, reference data is typically used in look-up tables. This brings us to what reference data is not - it's not transaction structure data, although it is commonly miscast into this role. To see the difference using an example from my own experience, a two column table of reference data could be a digital phone manufacturer and the first three octets of an electronic serial number that is assigned to the manufacturer. This is static. Extending this example to another table of reference data that is keyed to the first could be the manufacturer and specific phone models. While models come and go, this is still static and qualifies as reference data. However, a designer might be tempted to include a table that lists a specific phone, keyed on the electronic serial number, but also keyed to a status, such as active, inactive or stolen. This is a transaction structure because it changes based on a number of conditions, such as if the equipment is active and assigned to a customer, or in stock. Therein lies the distinction and the theme of the book - reference data is static and other types of data are not.

The author covers basic database design concepts, types of reference data and their use, and managing reference data. As the book progresses it is apparent that there is a lot more to consider about reference data than including look-up tables in a database. This is amply shown in the chapter on the reference data life cycle where he discusses changing codes and descriptions. Other issues that the data architect needs to take into consideration, thoroughly covered in this book, are mapping reference data, and implementing reference data in an existing database. Too often look-up tables are added to the schema with no thought to how it is going to be integrated and maintained. The author gives some sage advice on this topic.

I particularly liked the discussion on what I call "reference data from hell" - dates, times & time zones, currency conversions and the such. Also germane because I recently did a consulting assignment in the Middle East is the treatment of foreign languages and translations. I was most gratified, however, to see a chapter that addressed testing reference data and the associated problems with production vs. test data. From personal experience I can attest that this is often overlooked and is a real problem if your data architecture uses a lot of reference data. My main experience is wireless telecom provider billing systems which use a *lot* of reference data. Mr. Chisholm's advice on testing is on the mark and should be heeded.

This book is valuable to any data architect or system designer, however, its real value is to those who are working with e-commerce systems and telecommunications billing systems, because both domains heavily use reference data and need the mature approach set forth in this book.

Some interesting sidelights:Model the crab problem as an M\M\k\1. Mathcad has the employee optimization in their Expert Solver. Use Mathcads logistic solver recast to solve catastrophy problem, very interesting. Redo Beltrami's bessel solution for diffussion using Mathcad for Spherical Bessels, then reformulate to show nodes, then set Frame function to show actual growth in 3 dimenstions. All in all really enjoyed and can't wait to get his next.

In this book you'll find, fully explained, subjects that are only mentioned briefly in other texts on modeling. I liked the chapter (chapter five) on Eigenvalue Methods for the analysis of dynamic models. I wished I had it four years ago when I was taking a course on modeling at the University of Washington. It really shows you how to do it. The same can be said about chapters 2 and 3 on optimization and chapters 7 and 8 on probability models (I liked specially the one on Markov Chains). I'm using it for teaching those techniques. The pseuodocode it includes is particularly helpful when you take the methods presented in the book to the computer. However, I would not recomend it to be used on its own as the only text in a course. It is a nice complement to texts like Gurney and Nisbet's Ecological Dynamics that presents many particular models in detail, while Meerschaert makes enphasis on general techniques. It's also a step up the ladder from "abc-of-modeling-techniques" texts like Vandermeer's Elementary Mathemathical Ecology. With 20/20 hindsight, if I had to learn modeling from the begining (or, if I had to teach it as I'm doing now) I would choose these titles as a step-by-step system, coupled with some Math packages like MathCad or Matlab.

The book is very well organized, covering thopics for beginers in Biological Modeling, to advance thopics. It does have a chapter explaining parameter estimation and statistical inference as well. The Stochastic model analysis was very helpful to.

Very good samples in Fishery models and populations. Not very complete on Forest Models (my area of interes), but still a very good book!

This is not a new cover on an older book. Having enjoyed Beltrami's first book I was glad to see a second. The new continues the subject of modeling not math. Well written, the author's book ties the conceptual difficulites of the subjects with the necessary math to get the point accross and guide the reader to new frontiers of insight again in the sense of the physical model not the math. This is a very important point! One does not lose sight of the over-all objective as with some math intensive proof types. The beauty of the work is getting the necessary across with the least. One disappointment though. The book was to short. I hope the author continues another work. Perhaps some more indepth of previous covered material. All examples and problems are easily solved in Mathcad, which already has the depth but sometimes not the explanation.

This is one of the best books that I have ever seen on Pro/E. The chapters are very well-organized with easy to follow directions . For each concept, there are numerous examples with step by step instructions.

The book would be ideal for both beginners who are trying to explore Pro/E, as well as advanced users who are trying to make the best use of Engineering Design using Pro/E.

An excellent 3D surface modeling course. Easily assimilated material. Allows both student and professional to quickly familiarize themselves with the functions and commands, then continues to serve as an online/offline reference. All of the examples within the textbook are on the cd -- complete with multimedia demonstrations.

I laughed, I cried, than I realized it was just a book. But not just any book, It was definately one of the best Mechanical Desktop books that I have ever used.

Having read a number of books on Parametric Solid and Assembly Modeling, I can say assuredly that this book, although a bit dated now (copyright in 1998), is still the best introduction to this subject. This is because the author, Steven K. Howell, actually explains the rationale for using the various commands to construct various solids and then to assemble them together to form the final assembly. Whereas other books just have you pretty much follow a cookbook approach to constructing parametric solids and assemblies thereof, this book is chock full of explanations. As an indication of how highly I value this book, I periodically visit Amazon.com and other on-line bookstores just hoping that Mr. Howell has written another book on the subject. And when I don't find a later book, I search the internet for any news of a later book. If I had to pick just one book for learning any version of Mechanical Desktop (yes, even Version 5), this would be it.