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result, an extensive network of technology measure conditions at a large number
of nodes on the grid and provide feedback to electricity sources (e.g., power
plants or energy storage devices) to increase or decrease generation to match
demand. The application of electric sensors and internet communication to the
grid constitutes the so-called “smart grid.” As the diversity of energy sources
increases along with more distributed variable generation sources, more energy
storage devices, and demand management tools, the need for ever more sophistical tools to ensure a reliable and resilient electric grid.
The critical need for balancing supply and demand for all FEW commodities
and the existence of nodes where commodities flow in and out on a continuous
basis mean that process networks are a very useful tool for FEW systems.
Network theory provides many tools for the analysis of complex systems;
most network theory applies to simple networks like internet-based social networks, but more sophisticated network methods are being developed to address
the more complicated types of real-world Process Networks found in FEW systems. Scientists and engineers have done the most science on communication
and computer networks, so the fields of Information Theory and computer science are particularly valuable sources of methods for Process Network study.
• Distributed Natural and Distributed Human Controls: The combination of
the complex interactions between different parts of a system, and changes to
individual elements, causes changes to ripple through the entire system. A complex system is not controlled by one force or by one component but by multiple
forces and components that are distributed throughout the system. Ecosystems
and the laws of nature provide a number of controls on how systems operate.
Distributed natural controls for FEW systems include such factors as soil conditions, annual climate cycles, seasonal precipitation, and wind speed.
Similarly, human systems usually have many independent decision-makers
and actors (agents) who have different priorities and objectives and frequently
work toward different (and often conflicting) outcomes. For example, the individual choices of billions of people determine the demand for food products,
which in turn drives production patterns and natural resource consumption.
However, control is not equitable. Hierarchies and hubs for control exist; there is
a net flow of information from “controlling” to “controlled” parts of the system,
even when both parts are exerting some control.
Distributed human controls for FEW systems include such factors as fertilizer
application by farmers and government agricultural policies for food; drilling of
new oil wells and wholesale electricity markets for energy; groundwater pumping rates and water pricing for water; and for all aspects of FEW systems, consumers, investors, distributors, and regulators in diverse locations.
• Hierarchy: Complex systems still have hierarchies of scale, importance, and
control. Despite their heterogeneity, interdependency, and emergent properties,
some parts of the system exert more control than others, and some scales are
more important than others. Complex systems have distributed control, but
there are centers and hubs of control. At the same time, a more complete understanding of a complex system includes recognition of the free parameters of
P. Saundry and B. L. Ruddell
result, an extensive network of technology measure conditions at a large number
of nodes on the grid and provide feedback to electricity sources (e.g., power
plants or energy storage devices) to increase or decrease generation to match
demand. The application of electric sensors and internet communication to the
grid constitutes the so-called “smart grid.” As the diversity of energy sources
increases along with more distributed variable generation sources, more energy
storage devices, and demand management tools, the need for ever more sophistical tools to ensure a reliable and resilient electric grid.
The critical need for balancing supply and demand for all FEW commodities
and the existence of nodes where commodities flow in and out on a continuous
basis mean that process networks are a very useful tool for FEW systems.
Network theory provides many tools for the analysis of complex systems;
most network theory applies to simple networks like internet-based social networks, but more sophisticated network methods are being developed to address
the more complicated types of real-world Process Networks found in FEW systems. Scientists and engineers have done the most science on communication
and computer networks, so the fields of Information Theory and computer science are particularly valuable sources of methods for Process Network study.
• Distributed Natural and Distributed Human Controls: The combination of
the complex interactions between different parts of a system, and changes to
individual elements, causes changes to ripple through the entire system. A complex system is not controlled by one force or by one component but by multiple
forces and components that are distributed throughout the system. Ecosystems
and the laws of nature provide a number of controls on how systems operate.
Distributed natural controls for FEW systems include such factors as soil conditions, annual climate cycles, seasonal precipitation, and wind speed.
Similarly, human systems usually have many independent decision-makers
and actors (agents) who have different priorities and objectives and frequently
work toward different (and often conflicting) outcomes. For example, the individual choices of billions of people determine the demand for food products,
which in turn drives production patterns and natural resource consumption.
However, control is not equitable. Hierarchies and hubs for control exist; there is
a net flow of information from “controlling” to “controlled” parts of the system,
even when both parts are exerting some control.
Distributed human controls for FEW systems include such factors as fertilizer
application by farmers and government agricultural policies for food; drilling of
new oil wells and wholesale electricity markets for energy; groundwater pumping rates and water pricing for water; and for all aspects of FEW systems, consumers, investors, distributors, and regulators in diverse locations.
• Hierarchy: Complex systems still have hierarchies of scale, importance, and
control. Despite their heterogeneity, interdependency, and emergent properties,
some parts of the system exert more control than others, and some scales are
more important than others. Complex systems have distributed control, but
there are centers and hubs of control. At the same time, a more complete understanding of a complex system includes recognition of the free parameters of
P. Saundry and B. L. Ruddell