# An Open Source Framework Approach to Support Condition Monitoring and Maintenance
## 1 Introduction  
The need for the development of new technologies in the modern world emanates from the emerging requirements foo society and the market. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) innovations are required to support the development of new products and to deliver novel services in today's markets [1]. Each of the stakeholders in society as well as in the market place differing demands on this development. Companies need to continuously adopt novel technologies and adapt to the latest ICT developments, otherwise they are prone to suffer in terms of competitive advantage over their competitors and lose market share and profits [2]. Consequently, it becomes pertinent that the companies keep themselves abreast with the newly emerging ICTs and other technologies. It turns out that it is necessary to understand open source tools, big data analytics and mining, and other related new technologies in the specific domains of interest. The necessity of standardization for the integration of information and the components for interoperability becomes extremely important. The software industry has been at the forefront of the introduction of standards in new developments. These standards help in the easier upgrading of system parts, increasing the number of suppliers with alternative technologies, faster technology development, and reduced prices [3]. Asset maintenance and its related fields have also been subject to such standardization attempts in the recent past. Open system architecture-condition-based maintenance (OSA-CBM) is such a standardization initiative that has resulted in the improved flexibility and interoperability of asset maintenance practices, especially for the field of CBM. CBM helps in carrying out asset-based maintenance on its condition through the monitoring of some of its parameters. The operating costs related to maintenance can be quite high, especially in some industries where they can be the highest or the second-highest of the operating costs [4], and both over- and under-maintenance could be costly for the industry. Maintenance costs money, and over-maintenance will incur costs. Sometimes, unnecessary maintenance can also result in new faults in the machines. Similarly, maintenance can cause failures that result in significant losses due to the stoppage of production and corrective actions. These primary failures can sometimes cause secondary failures as well. Roller element bearings (REBs) are part of most of the mechanical machines being used in the production and manufacturing industries. In rotatory machines, the mechanical parts are the most exposed ones [5]. Failures of REBs have a substantial impact on the whole machinery; thus, it is of the foremost importance to do effective condition monitoring of REBs not to incur in lost production time and economic losses. It becomes a matter of utmost importance for the industry to decide on the optimal intervention timing for maintenance actions. CBM has been the major focus of attention because it has the capability to determine this intervention timing accurately. However, the development of such ICT systems is costly and time-consuming, and hence there is a need to have proficient strategies for developing such systems. Open source solutions are a very potent tool in such scenarios due to their lower costs, and their usability is a critical characteristic for their adoption. When it comes to automated manufacturing or process plants, CBM is the preferred approach when it is feasible to implement it, i.e., considering both technical and financial aspects. The crucial part of the CBM is condition monitoring. It involves data acquisition, and the processing, analysis, and extraction of useful information. It also includes such aspects as the diagnostic and prognostics of the equipment. All the former mentioned to understand the current condition and predict its remaining lifetime of the machinery. However, it is well known that complications are faced when implementing the full circle of CBM [6].