ICALEPCS2023 - List of Authors (Matilla, O.)

Paper	Title	Page
TU2AO03	A Successful Emergency Response Plan: Lessons in the Controls Section of the ALBA Synchrotron	316
	G. Cuní, O. Matilla, J. Nicolàs, M. Pont ALBA-CELLS, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
	These are challenging times for research institutes in the field of software engineering. Our designs are becoming increasingly complex, and a software engineer needs years of experience to become productive. On the other hand, the software job market is very dynamic, and a computer engineer receives tens of offers from private companies with attractive salaries every year. Occasionally, the perfect storm can occur, and in a short period of time, several key people in a group with years of experience leave. The situation is even more critical when the institute is plunged into a high growth rate with several new instruments under way. Naturally, engaged teams will resist reducing operational service quality, but, on the other hand, the new installations milestones dates will approach quickly. This article outlines the decision-making process and the measures taken to cope with this situation in the ALBA Synchroton’s Controls Section. The plan included reorganizing teamwork, but more importantly, redefining the relationship with our clients and prioritization processes. As a result, the team was restructured and new roles were created. In addition, effective coordination was vital, and new communication channels were established to ensure smooth workflows. The emergency peak period is over in our case, but we have learned a lot of lessons and implemented many changes that will stay with us. They have made us more efficient and more resilient in case of future emergencies.
	Slides TU2AO03 [1.132 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TU2AO03
About •	Received ※ 02 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 19 November 2023 — Issued ※ 28 November 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

TUPDP077	Towards the ALBA II : the Computing Division Preliminary Study	691
	O. Matilla, J.A. Avila-Abellan, F. Becheri, S. Blanch-Torné, A.M. Burillo, A. Camps Gimenez, I. Costa, G. Cuní, T. Fernández Maltas, R.H. Homs, J. Moldes, E. Morales, C. Pascual-Izarra, S. Pusó Gallart, A. Pérez Font, Z. Reszela, B. Revuelta, A. Rubio, S. Rubio-Manrique, J. Salabert, N. Serra, X. Serra-Gallifa, N. Soler, S. Vicente Molina, J. Villanueva ALBA-CELLS, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
	The ALBA Synchrotron has started the work for up-grading the accelerator and beamlines towards a 4th gen-eration source, the future ALBA II, in 2030. A complete redesign of the magnets lattice and an upgrade of the beamlines will be required. But in addition, the success of the ALBA II project will depend on multiple factors. First, after thirteen years in operation, all the subsystems of the current accelerator must be revised. To guarantee their lifetime until 2060, all the possible ageing and obsoles-cence factors must be considered. Besides, many tech-nical enhancements have improved performance and reliability in recent years. Using the latest technologies will also avoid obsolescence in the medium term, both in the hardware and the software. Considering this, the pro-ject ALBA II Computing Preliminary Study (ALBA II CPS) was launched in mid-2021, identifying 11 work packages. In each one, a group of experts were selected to analyze the different challenges and needs in the compu-ting and electronics fields for future accelerator design: from power supplies technologies, IOC architectures, or PLC-based automation systems to synchronization needs, controls software stack, IT Systems infrastructure or ma-chine learning opportunities. Now, we have a clearer picture of what is required. Hence, we can build a realistic project plan to ensure the success of the ALBA II. It is time to get ALBA II off the ground.
	Poster TUPDP077 [0.687 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP077
About •	Received ※ 05 October 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 11 December 2023 — Issued ※ 15 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

Paper

Title

Page

A Successful Emergency Response Plan: Lessons in the Controls Section of the ALBA Synchrotron

316

G. Cuní, O. Matilla, J. Nicolàs, M. Pont
ALBA-CELLS, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

These are challenging times for research institutes in the field of software engineering. Our designs are becoming increasingly complex, and a software engineer needs years of experience to become productive. On the other hand, the software job market is very dynamic, and a computer engineer receives tens of offers from private companies with attractive salaries every year. Occasionally, the perfect storm can occur, and in a short period of time, several key people in a group with years of experience leave. The situation is even more critical when the institute is plunged into a high growth rate with several new instruments under way. Naturally, engaged teams will resist reducing operational service quality, but, on the other hand, the new installations milestones dates will approach quickly. This article outlines the decision-making process and the measures taken to cope with this situation in the ALBA Synchroton’s Controls Section. The plan included reorganizing teamwork, but more importantly, redefining the relationship with our clients and prioritization processes. As a result, the team was restructured and new roles were created. In addition, effective coordination was vital, and new communication channels were established to ensure smooth workflows. The emergency peak period is over in our case, but we have learned a lot of lessons and implemented many changes that will stay with us. They have made us more efficient and more resilient in case of future emergencies.

Slides TU2AO03 [1.132 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TU2AO03

About •

Received ※ 02 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 19 November 2023 — Issued ※ 28 November 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

TUPDP077

Towards the ALBA II : the Computing Division Preliminary Study

691

O. Matilla, J.A. Avila-Abellan, F. Becheri, S. Blanch-Torné, A.M. Burillo, A. Camps Gimenez, I. Costa, G. Cuní, T. Fernández Maltas, R.H. Homs, J. Moldes, E. Morales, C. Pascual-Izarra, S. Pusó Gallart, A. Pérez Font, Z. Reszela, B. Revuelta, A. Rubio, S. Rubio-Manrique, J. Salabert, N. Serra, X. Serra-Gallifa, N. Soler, S. Vicente Molina, J. Villanueva
ALBA-CELLS, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

The ALBA Synchrotron has started the work for up-grading the accelerator and beamlines towards a 4th gen-eration source, the future ALBA II, in 2030. A complete redesign of the magnets lattice and an upgrade of the beamlines will be required. But in addition, the success of the ALBA II project will depend on multiple factors. First, after thirteen years in operation, all the subsystems of the current accelerator must be revised. To guarantee their lifetime until 2060, all the possible ageing and obsoles-cence factors must be considered. Besides, many tech-nical enhancements have improved performance and reliability in recent years. Using the latest technologies will also avoid obsolescence in the medium term, both in the hardware and the software. Considering this, the pro-ject ALBA II Computing Preliminary Study (ALBA II CPS) was launched in mid-2021, identifying 11 work packages. In each one, a group of experts were selected to analyze the different challenges and needs in the compu-ting and electronics fields for future accelerator design: from power supplies technologies, IOC architectures, or PLC-based automation systems to synchronization needs, controls software stack, IT Systems infrastructure or ma-chine learning opportunities. Now, we have a clearer picture of what is required. Hence, we can build a realistic project plan to ensure the success of the ALBA II. It is time to get ALBA II off the ground.

Poster TUPDP077 [0.687 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP077

About •

Received ※ 05 October 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 11 December 2023 — Issued ※ 15 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)