Method for controlling the operation of an engine system

A computer implemented method for controlling the operation of an engine system in a vehicle, the engine system comprising an engine and an exhaust aftertreatment system for reducing at least NOx emissions of the exhaust gases from the engine using a reductant, the engine system comprising a plurality of engine system components configured to perform a plurality of NOx emission reducing activities, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• determining the current status of the engine system at least by determining a temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment system;
• determining engine operation preview information as a function of time over a prediction horizon;
• providing a minimization function over the prediction horizon, the minimization function comprising at least the following parameters:
• NOx tailpipe emission level, fuel utilization level, and urea utilization level,
• determining weight factors at least for the fuel utilization level parameter and the urea utilization level parameter of the minimization function for the prediction horizon,
• retrieving constraints and/or references for at least one of the parameters,
• performing a minimization of the minimization function, subject to the constraints, by tuning at least one set-point of a model adapted to describe relationships between the tunable at least one set-point and the NOx tailpipe emission level, the fuel utilization level, and the urea utilization level,
• extracting at least one output set point from the minimization step,
• initiating at least one NOx emission controlling activity according to the at least one output setpoint.