G2 (software)
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| G2 (software) | |
|---|---|
| Name | G2 |
| Developer | Gensym Corporation |
| Released | 1986 |
| Programming language | Lisp (programming language) |
| Operating system | Unix, Windows NT |
| Genre | Expert system, Knowledge-based system |
| License | Proprietary |
G2 (software) is a real-time expert system and knowledge-base platform developed for industrial automation, decision support, and process control. It provides a development environment and runtime for building rule-based applications used in sectors such as oil refinery, telecommunications, power grid, aviation, and manufacturing. G2 combines inference engines, data acquisition, and graphical visualization to support applications deployed by enterprises including BP, Siemens, General Electric, Schlumberger, and Boeing.
Overview
G2 originated as a commercial implementation of ideas from artificial intelligence research in the 1980s, particularly derived from work in expert system architectures and knowledge engineering. The platform emphasizes event-driven inference, temporal reasoning, and model-based control to facilitate rapid development of control and monitoring systems for process control environments. G2 targeted integration with SCADA systems, distributed control system, and supervisory layers used across energy industry and aerospace enterprises.
Features and Architecture
G2's architecture centers on a persistent knowledge base, an inference engine, and runtime services that interact with external data sources. Core features include a forward-chaining rule engine, object-oriented knowledge representation, temporal pattern matching, and real-time event handling. The environment offers graphical development tools, connectors for OPC, MODBUS, and bespoke protocols, and facilities for building human-machine interfaces used in control rooms. G2 supports embedding of Lisp (programming language) code for custom functions, an object hierarchy for modeling assets, and facilities for alarm management, trend analysis, and scenario simulation used by plant operators, systems integrators, and maintenance engineers.
History and Development
G2 was developed by Gensym Corporation in the mid-1980s as a commercial productization of concepts from expert systems and real-time computing pioneered by researchers and practitioners in Stanford University and MIT. Early adopters included organizations in petroleum refining and semiconductor manufacturing seeking decision-support tools. Over subsequent decades G2 evolved through releases adding distributed processing, improved graphical tools, and protocol adapters to interface with industrial equipment supplied by companies like ABB, Emerson Electric, and Honeywell International Inc.. Corporate events influencing G2's roadmap included partnerships and deployment projects with Schneider Electric, acquisitions and mergers affecting Gensym Corporation's strategy, and shifts toward web-based visualization and enterprise integration patterns favored by SAP and Oracle Corporation users.
Reception and Usage
Industry analysts in automation and information technology sectors recognized G2 for enabling rapid prototyping and deployment of expert applications in mission-critical settings. Case studies by firms such as BP and Siemens highlighted reductions in downtime and improved situational awareness for control-room staff. Academic researchers in control theory and decision support systems cited G2 in studies comparing rule-based systems with model-predictive control approaches used in chemical engineering and power systems. Critics noted challenges related to proprietary formats and vendor lock-in, while supporters emphasized robustness in fault-tolerant installations used by airlines and utilities.
Integration and Compatibility
G2 was designed to interoperate with a variety of industrial protocols, databases, and enterprise systems. Connectors and adapters enable data exchange with OPC, MODBUS, DNP3, IEC 61850 systems, and historian products from vendors such as OSIsoft and Honeywell Process Solutions. Integration patterns include event-driven messaging with MQ Series, TIBCO, and Apache Kafka brokers, as well as database synchronization with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database, and PostgreSQL. The platform has been integrated into larger solutions alongside Siemens SIMATIC, Emerson DeltaV, and GE Digital control suites through systems integrators like Accenture and Schneider Electric partners.
Security and Privacy
Deployments of G2 in industrial environments require attention to network segmentation, authentication, and auditing consistent with standards adopted by NIST and industry consortia such as ISA and IEC. Typical safeguards include use of secure tunnels with TLS, role-based access control tied to Active Directory or LDAP services, and logging compatible with SIEM platforms like Splunk and IBM QRadar. Security assessments performed by certified auditors and vendor integrators address threats described in guidance from CISA and ENISA, emphasizing protection against cyber-physical attacks observed in incidents involving energy sector infrastructure.
Licensing and Availability
G2 has historically been offered under proprietary licensing models by Gensym Corporation, with licensing options targeting enterprise deployments, development seats, and runtime nodes. Licensing arrangements often involve service agreements for support, training, and customization provided by systems integrators such as Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric. Availability typically depends on negotiated contracts for maintenance and access to software updates, with some legacy installations migrated to alternative platforms through modernization projects undertaken by consulting firms like Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers.