Researcher

Humberto Garcia, Ph.D.

Group Lead, Dynamic Systems Integration Senior Researcher, ICIS

Research Areas:
Advanced Safeguards; Intelligent Monitoring and Decision Systems Laboratory; Resilience Research Leads; Energy Systems Research; Power and Energy Systems

Biography:

Dr. Humberto Garcia is a Directorate Fellow and Senior Technical Advisor at Idaho National Laboratory, currently with the Systems Science and Engineering division. His work revolves around intelligent monitoring, control and supervision problems for complex systems (incl. advanced energy systems, critical infrastructures and low-carbon-centered energy grids, as well as national security and nuclear non-proliferation applications). Particular research efforts pertain to secure embedded intelligence (SEI) including the secure use of computational intelligence and systems theories including control, data analytics, and optimization methods in estimating the state of complex systems, understanding its conditions (incl. health and risk), and taking informed and proactive predictive decisions related to their reliable, efficient, safe, sustainable, and resilient operations. His research work at INL has been supported by multiple sponsors including U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO), DOE Office of Electricity (OE), DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and several offices within U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC).

Education:

Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering-Minor: Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Dipl.-Ing, Electrical Engineering: Systems & Automatics, Power Systems, Universidad de Carabobo
Certif. High Performance Leadership, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Affiliations:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Power and Energy Society (IEEE PES)
American Nuclear Society (ANS)
Institute of Nuclear Material Management (INMM)

Publications:

H.E. Garcia, M.N. Patterson, R.B. Carlson (2023), “Modeling, Analysis, and Optimization of Complex Nuclear Processes and Facilities via Computational Methods: The HALEU Process Case Study,” Progress in Nuclear Energy (Submitted).
D. Pylorof, H.E. Garcia (2022), “A reinforcement learning approach to long-horizon operations, health, and maintenance supervisory control of advanced energy systems,” Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 116 (2022) 105454.
H.E. Garcia, D. Pylorof, R. Bhattarai (2023). “A Dynamic Resilient Control Architecture for Distributed Energy Systems,” IEEE Transactions of Smart Grids (working paper).
D. Pylorof, H.E. Garcia (2023). “Towards self-driving energy systems using reinforcement learning to weigh plant operations, maintenance, market dynamics, and economics,” (working paper).
D. Pylorof, H.E. Garcia (2023). “Risk-Informed Condition Evaluation for Solar-centered Energy Generation and Distribution Networks through Bayesian Learning and Inference,” IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid (working paper).
H.E. Garcia, W.-C. Lin, D. Pylorof (2023). “Resilient Monitoring of Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems Under Hybrid Threats,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology (working paper).
H.E. Garcia, S.E. Aumeier, A.Y. Al-Rashdan (2020). “Integrated State Awareness Through Secure Embedded Intelligence in Nuclear Systems: Opportunities and Implications,” Nuclear Science and Engineering, Vol. 194, pp. 249-269, April 2020.
H.E. Garcia, S.E. Aumeier, A.Y. Al-Rashdan, B.L. Rolston (2020). “Secure Embedded Intelligence in Nuclear Systems: Framework and Methods,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, Vol. 140, 2020, 107261.
W.R. Binder, C.J.J. Paredis, H.E. Garcia (2017). “The Value of Flexibility in the Design of Hybrid Energy Systems: A Real Option Analysis,” IEEE Power and Energy Technology Systems Journal, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 74-83, Dec. 2017.
H.E. Garcia, M.F. Simpson, W.-C. Lin, R.B. Carlson, T.-S. Yoo (2017). “Application of Process Monitoring to Anomaly Detection in Nuclear Material Processing Systems via System-centric Event Interpretation of Data from Multiple Sensors of Varying Reliability,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, 103, pp. 60-73.
H.E. Garcia, J. Chen, J.-S. Kim, et al. (2016). “Dynamic analysis of two regional nuclear hybrid energy systems,” Journal of Energy, 107, pp. 234-258.
J. Chen, H.E. Garcia (2016). “Economic optimization of operations for hybrid energy systems under variable markets," Journal of Applied Energy, 177, pp. 11-24.
J. Chen, H.E. Garcia, J.-S. Kim, S. Bragg-Sitton (2016). "Operations optimization of nuclear hybrid energy systems ", Journal of Nuclear Technology, Vol. 195, No. 2, pp. 143-156.
J.-S. Kim, J. Chen, H.E. Garcia (2016). “Modeling, control, and dynamic performance analysis of a reverse osmosis desalination plant integrated within HES,” Journal of Energy, 112, pp. 52-66.H.E. Garcia, T. Yoo (2019). “Analytical platform for the design, evaluation, and optimization of sensor, communication, and interdiction networks for enhanced physical protection and threat reduction,” Journal of Physical Security (in-progress).
H.E. Garcia, S.M. Meerkov, M.T. Ravichandran (2015). “Resilient plant monitoring systems: Techniques, Analysis, Design, Performance Evaluation,” J. of Process Control, Vol. 32, pp. 51-63.
H.E. Garcia, W.-C. Lin, S.M. Meerkov, M.T. Ravichandran (2014). “Resilient monitoring systems: Architecture, design, and application to boiler/turbine plant,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Vol. 44, No. 11, pp. 2010-2024.
W.-C. Lin, K. Villez, H.E. Garcia. (2014). “Experimental validation of a resilient monitoring and control system,” Journal of Process Control, Vol. 24, Issue 5, pp. 621-639.
H.E. Garcia, A. Mohanty, W.-C. Lin, R.S. Cherry (2013). ``Dynamic Analysis of Hybrid Energy Systems under Flexible Operations and Variable Renewable Generations--Part I: Dynamic Performance Analysis,'' Journal of Energy, vol. 52, pp. 1-16.
H.E. Garcia, A. Mohanty, W.-C. Lin, R.S. Cherry (2013). ``Dynamic Analysis of Hybrid Energy Systems under Flexible Operations and Variable Renewable Generations--Part II: Dynamic Cost Analysis,'' Journal of Energy, vol. 52, pp. 17--26.
W.-C. Lin, H.E. Garcia, T.-S. Yoo (2013). “A Diagnoser Algorithm for Anomaly Detection in DEDS under Partial and Unreliable Observations: Characterization and Inclusion in Sensor Configuration Optimization,” Journal of Discrete Event Dyn. Sys, Vol. 23, Issue 1, pp. 61-91.
H.E. Garcia, T.L. Burr, et al. (2012). “Integration of Facility Modeling Capabilities for Nuclear Nonproliferation Analysis,” Journal on Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 54, Issue 1, pp. 96-111.
T.L. Burr, //, H.E. Garcia, et al. (2012). "Roles for process monitoring in nuclear safeguards at aqueous reprocessing plants. Journal of Nuclear Material Management, Vol. 40, pp. 42–53.
T. Bjornard, H.E. Garcia, W. Desmond, S. Demuth (2010). “Safeguarding and Protecting the Nuclear Fuel Cycle,” Nuclear News. pp. 76-80.
T. Yoo, H.E. Garcia (2009). “Event counting of partially-observed discrete-event systems with uniformly and nonuniformly bounded diagnosis delays,” Journal of Discrete-Event Dynamic Systems. (2009) 19: pp. 167-187, ISSN: 0924-6703.
T. Yoo, H.E. Garcia (2008). “Diagnosis of behaviors of interest in partially-observed discrete-event systems,” Journal of Systems & Control Letters, Vol. 57, Issue 12, pp. 1023-1029.
H.E. Garcia, T. Yoo (2005). “Model-based detection of routing events in discrete flow networks,” Journal of Automatica, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 583-594.
H.E. Garcia, R. Vilim (2003). “Integrating Physical Modeling, Neural Computing, and Statistical Analysis for Online Process Monitoring,” J. of Nuclear Technology, Vol. 141, No. 2, pp. 69-77.
S. Jiang, R. Kumar, H.E. Garcia (2003). “Optimal Sensor Selection for Discrete-Event Systems with Partial Observation,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 369-381.

S. Jiang, R. Kumar, H.E. Garcia (2003). “Diagnosis of Repeated/Intermittent Failures in Discrete-Event Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics & Automation, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 310-323.
H.E. Garcia (2002). “Proliferation Resistance of Advanced Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycles,” Nuclear Plant Journal, Vol. 20, Issue 1, pp. 18-25.
R. Vilim, H.E. Garcia, F. Chen (2001). “An Identification Scheme Combining First Principle Knowledge, Neural Networks, and Likelihood Ratio Test,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 186-199.
H.E. Garcia (2000). "Operational analysis and improvement of a spent nuclear fuel handling and treatment facility using discrete event simulation." Journal of Computers & Industrial Engineering, Vol. 38, No.2, pp. 235-249.
H.E. Garcia (1998). “Modeling and Control of a Sodium Conversion Process Applied to Nuclear Decommissioning Activities,” Journal of Nuclear Technology, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 166-183.
H. E. Garcia, A. Houshyar (1998). “Discrete event simulation of fuel transfer strategies for defueling a nuclear reactor,” Journal of Simulation, Vol. 70, No. 2, pp. 104-118.
H.E. Garcia (1997). “A Hierarchical Platform for Implementing Hybrid Systems in Process Control,” Journal of Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 779-789.
R. Vilim, H.E. Garcia (1997). “Hierarchical Control of Reactor Inlet Temperature in Pool-Type Plants: Physics of Control,” J. of Nuclear Science & Engineering, Vol.125, No. 3, pp. 324-336.
H.E. Garcia, R. Vilim, E.M. Dean (1997). “Hierarchical Control of Reactor Inlet Temperature in Pool-Type Plants: Implementation and Results,” Journal of Nuclear Science & Engineering, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 337-347.
H.E. Garcia, A. Ray (1996). “State-Space Supervisory Control of Reconfigurable Discrete-Event Systems,” International Journal of Control, Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 767-797.
H.E. Garcia, A. Ray, R.M. Edwards (1995). “A Reconfigurable Hybrid System and Its Application to Power Plant Control,” IEEE Trans. on Control Systems Technology, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 157-170.
R.M. Edwards, J. A. Turso, K. Y. Lee, H.E. Garcia, A. Ray (1992). "The Penn State Intelligent Distributed Control Research Laboratory," IEEE Trans. on Energy Conv., Vol. 7, pp. 478-482.
H.E. Garcia, A. Ray, R.M. Edwards (1991). "Reconfigurable Control of Power Plants Using Learning Automata," IEEE Control System Magazine, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 85-92.

Patents:

H.E. Garcia, J.P. Christophersen (2019). “Systems and Methods for Estimation and Prediction of Battery Health and Performance,” Idaho National Laboratory, Patent No.: US 10,209,314 B2.
K.G. DeWall, H.E. Garcia, M.G. Mc.Kellar (2012). “Force Measuring Valve Assemblies, Systems Including such Valve Assemblies and Related Methods.” Patent No.: US 8,156,822 B2.
H.E. Garcia (2010). “Methods for Setting Adaptive Frequency Band for Power Line Communication,” Idaho National Laboratory, IDR: BA-332.
R.B. Vilim, H.E. Garcia, F.W. Chen (2002). “Statistically Qualified Neuro-Analytic Failure Detection Method and System,” Patent No.: US 6,353,815 B1.

Presentations:

Awards:

IEEE Senior Member, 2015
IEEE Region 6 Director's Special Award: Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems, 2014
INL Outstanding Excellence in Publication Award, 2014
INL Exceptional Contributions Program Recognition Awards Multiple Years
Best Symposium Paper Award at IEEE 4th Int. Sym. on Resilient Control Systems, 2012
INL Excellence in Action Award, 2005
ANL Inventors Award, 2003
ANL Pacesetter Award, 2000

Research Interests:

Systems theories and applications as applied to diverse fundamental domains including: instrumentation, monitoring, control, supervision, computational intelligence, agile optimization; secure embedded intelligence (SEI), integrated state awareness (ISA), and autonomy; predictive controls and maintenance; cyber/physical security and resiliency of cyber-physical systems (CPS); multi-fidelity, multi-scale digital twins; risk-informed system-centric engineering; data analytics; smart systems, structures, and components; hybrid energy systems; O&M analysis, improvement, and automation; advanced manufacturing; mission-driven operations and survivability; sensor and interdiction networks; nuclear non-/counter-proliferation; Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), and at-scale integrated demonstrations.

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