ABSTRACT
This chapter defines alternative architectures, and at the end of the fourth step, one has selected a preferred architecture from among the alternatives. In all cases, architectures are definitively built upon the functional decomposition of the system. For low values of cost and effectiveness, there is a mostly linear region where both effectiveness and cost both increase together. As both increase, there is a “knee-of-the-curve” behavior as the curve bends to the right. From there, costs increase dramatically in order to achieve increasing levels of effectiveness. The functional decomposition for the system, known as Severe Climate Anemometry System. They are Atmospheric Sensing, Mechanical Service, Environmental Service, Power Service, Indoor/Outdoor Transmission, and Data Handling. They are based upon the notion of looking for a low-cost, knee-of-the-curve, and high-effectiveness set of alternatives.
