StemNode User Manual

STEMnode.com

STEMnode.com consists of system of systems maps

Elements of a System Map

There are three elements to every system map

1. Nodes - circles and squares Nodes represent systems that can have subsystems or connect to other systems. Circular nodes represent a system that converts input flows into output flows while a square node represents a storage system where inputs are typically the same as outputs. For example, in a diagram of a car's electrical system an an alternator would be represented with a circle node because it converts mechanical torque into electrical energy, while the car battery would be represented with a square node because it stores energy but has electricity as both an input and output. The use of a square node vs. a circle node in a system diagram is a judgement call because sometimes a system element both stores and converts something; think of which function is more dominant when choosing how to represent the system.

2. Ports - small circles on the edges of nodes Ports represent the entry point of a flow into a node. Typically, ports are named the same as corresponding flows. Ports are required to connect flows to nodes.

3. Flows - solid and dotted arrows Flows represent the movement of something in or out of a node; solid arrows represent the flow of something physical while dashed arrows represent the flow of information. For example, the flow of gas out of a gas tank would be represented by a solid line, however the signal to the driver of the level of the gas tank would be represented by dotted line because the signal is primarily of an informational value (despite an actual physical process sending that signal).

Guidelines for Building System Maps

- It is typically appropriate to name ports the same as the external flow that connects to it. When two or more different flows connect to it, use more generic terminology which describes all the connecting flows succinctly. Alternatively, use terminology for the connection point itself (e.g. a "terminal" on a battery, or a "Universal Serial Bus (USB)" port on a computing system).

Reviews.STEMnode.com

Reviews.STEMnode.com is based on mediawiki software. Therefore mediawiki help pages are available for navigating software features. Most users will prefer to use the visual editor which is similar to using a word processor, however [basic formatting code] is helpful for advanced users.

Guidelines for Writing Reviews

-Often times reviews should have longer and more detailed titles than the nodes which they link from. This is because the system diagrams have context that imply many things wheras the reviews are out of context and a single review can be linked to multiple nodes. When a succinct name for a process does not exist you can name the process after it's primary output (e.g. Yogurt production should just be called "Yogurt"). When a product can be made from different inputs, use the format "[Primary Output] from [Primary Input]" in the name of the review.

-Ensure the reviews can remain relevant to the node(s) they are associated with by keeping content generalized only to the level of that node. The interaction of two nodes needs to be written about at the review associated with the parent level node.

-Give authors credit by including Authors: as the top line in the source code of each review.