Self-adaptation via concurrent multi-action evaluation for unknown context

Context-aware computing has been attracting growing attention in recent years. Generally, there are several ways for a context-aware system to select a course of action for a particular change of context. One way is for the system developers to encompass all possible context changes in the domain knowledge. Other methods include system inferences and adaptive learning whereby the system executes one action and evaluates the outcome and self-adapts/self-learns based on that. However, in situations where a system encounters unknown contexts, the iterative approach would become unfeasible when the size of the action space increases. Providing efficient solutions to this problem has been the main goal of this research project. Based on the developed abstract model, the designed methodology replaces the single action implementation and evaluation by multiple actions implemented and evaluated concurrently. This parallel evaluation of actions speeds up significantly the evolution time taken to select the best action suited to unknown context compared to the iterative approach. The designed and implemented framework efficiently carries out concurrent multi-action evaluation when an unknown context is encountered and finds the best course of action. Two concrete implementations of the framework were carried out demonstrating the usability and adaptability of the framework across multiple domains. The first implementation was in the domain of database performance tuning. The concrete implementation of the framework demonstrated the ability of concurrent multi-action evaluation technique to performance tune a database when performance is regressed for an unknown reason. The second implementation demonstrated the ability of the framework to correctly determine the threshold price to be used in a name-your-own-price channel when an unknown context is encountered. In conclusion the research introduced a new paradigm of a self-adaptation technique for context-aware application. Among the existing body of work, the concurrent multi-action evaluation is classified under the abstract concept of experiment-based self-adaptation techniques

Evaluation System Design and Academic Performance Analysis Using Clustering and Simulation

The starting point of this study was to understand the possible causes of evaluation system change in a military academic environment. With that motivation the objectives of this study were defined as examining student profiles in a military academy, establishing the nature of academic performance, comparing student groups that were identified by course scores, analyzing student performance changes over time and developing a manageable evaluation system and curriculum by comparing different scenarios. An analysis was performed on the literature on academic performance prediction, cluster analysis methodologies and their development, and specifically summarized cluster analytic academic performance studies where these two fields intersected. The study started with data collection, database creation and preparation for clustering and simulation studies. A two step clustering methodology was used for grouping courses and cadets. The validated cluster distributions were used as inputs into simulation study. The simulation study started with modeling cadet movements among clusters over stages. The distribution of clusters was found for each course and the scores were transferred into grades using information gathered from historic data. A new evaluation system design procedure was summarized starting with benchmark examples. Then a simulation was used for the evaluation of new system design settings. Assumptions of the simulation study were evaluated. Parameter settings and decision variables were defined and simulation experiments were conducted and results were interpreted by output analysis. The study concludes with a summary of possible outcomes for alternative system designs. During this study it was observed that academic performance is affected by many cognitive noncognitive and demographic variables. Complex human behavior and its interactions with educational environment make it unpredictable. Though, any curriculum or evaluation system development study should focus on these differences and the difficulties due to variation among students

Web based Lecturer Evaluation Systems

At the beginning of every semester, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) students will complete a "course evaluation questionnaire" for each of their courses used to review a lecturer's performance throughout the semester. The ideas of creating an online system is initiate when the manual system is more complicated and ineffective. This web online evaluation system would be a valuable project, with many potential benefits and outcome. It would facilitate the collection, storage and analysis of data. If using the Internet as the means of submittal, the students would be able to complete and submit the questionnaire from anywhere on campus, or even at home. This system will improve this institution services evaluation system and management. This web online lecturer evaluation form system is the way to use automated online web method to change from manual system to computer automated system. This system framework consists of front-end form, transaction method and databases. The first objective of this project is developing and design form template for client access. This form will use for collecting data and input from student evaluation. Then this form will auto generate the input process and transfer the input information using encrypting language. This form template will be a graphical interface for web online evaluation form. The form GUI will be design using Microsoft ASP.NET. Then the next step is providing the system which can handle the data. An object relational database will be use for this project for handling the big data collection and organized. Overall of this process work flow will be guide and monitor by an SET systems created. These SET systems will organize the data automatically. The methodology use is RAD to create system prototype. There will be three user type who using this SET system. There are student, lecturer and staff. The student will evaluate their lecturer, the lecturer will request the result and the staff will get and update the system database. For the security, user authentication was implemented using the Socket Secure Layer (SSL). The user logs on to the system through a password dialog box inside user front end. The student is only allowed to submit one evaluation per course and can resume the evaluation system

The challenges and complexities of implementing and evaluating the benefits of an IT system: the UK Police National Database

This paper discusses the various challenges and complexities involved in evaluating the benefits of an information system – the Police National Database. The paper begins by outlining background events in UK policing which lead to the Bichard Inquiry in 2004. The PND is a direct recommendation from the Inquiry, and represents one of the most important developments in recent policing history. The organisational context of implementing the PND is examined to discuss the various business change issues that are apparent, as well as the cultural changes in policing practices. The national methodology for benefits realisation is discussed, and this alluded to the complex context of evaluating evolutionary information systems such as the PND, and the challenges involved in measuring the system’s productivity and performance. Previous research carried out in relation to evaluating information systems, has enabled the development of distinct methodologies, and have assisted in identifying appropriate evaluation metrics for the PND. The paper concludes by summarising the complexities of performance and evaluation in information technology, and how future research planning will determine the development of an appropriate and robust evaluation framework for the PND

A multi-criteria decision method for sustainability assessment of the use phase of machine tool systems

In recent years, going green has become a strategic priority in manufacturing which has evolved from the growing awareness of the need for environmentally friendly processes and products. Recent trends in developing new machining strategies able to support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socioeconomic needs and technical requirements inevitably require significant efforts in fundamental understanding of the actual energy and material flows needed to meet the machining requirements. This paper describes the methodology and software, Global Reasoning for Eco-Evaluation of Machining, developed to evaluate the use phase of a machine tool system with respect to a consistent set of technical, economical, and environmental criteria, as a part of the NEXT European project. The evaluation, based on the analytic hierarchy process, is conducted at two levels: (a) the process/part level which considers the local cutting environment along with the "actors” that are directly involved in the cutting area, their relationships, and the phenomena that occur from their interactions and (b) the system level which gathers together the main specifications of the machine tool system and the energy requirements associated with various activities performed in order to support the material removal processes. Two database structures were defined in order to store the entire amount of data needed to perform the analysis at each level. A detailed example of the evaluation carried out at the first level demonstrated the superior performance of the dry and minimum quantity lubrication alternatives over their wet machining counterpart when cutting power, cutting fluid consumption, and the machining time were considered as criteria for the performance evaluation of various milling test

Report Management System for Teacher's Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal is an important process for any organization. It is the key of success to an organization as it ensures high quality of employees. Therefore, in Malaysia, government sectors are obligated to perform an annual performance evaluation and assessment on the employees. Currently, the Laporan Penilaian Prestasi Pegawai Kumpulan Perkhidmatan Sokongan (I) form is used by Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) and schools as a formal form for reporting the teacher's appraisal result. The form is a printed-paper that must be bought from PPD and it will be processed manually and filled in by the school's Guru Penolong Kanan (GPK) and Headmaster. The form will then be manually processed by the administrator at PPD. In this digital and Internet era, such manual systemis old-fashioned and time-wasting. To enhance the manual system, a web-based 'Report Management System for Teacher's Performance Appraisal' is developed. This web-based system may help the GPK and Headmaster to reduce time used to buy the form and return it to PPD, and calculate the marks manually. The proposed system can also allow the users including the administrator at PPD to view the past year teacher's performance data much easier. They can perform this task anywhere at anytime. For ease of time planning and management, Rapid Application Development (RAD) has been chosen as the methodology for the system development. The programming language to be used for accessing database is PHP for its widely-available source of codes

Development of a knowledge-based system for the repair and maintenance of concrete structures

PhD ThesisInformation Technology (IT) can exploit strategic opportunities for new ways of facilitating information and data exchange and the exchange of expert and specialist opinions in any field of engineering. Knowledge-Based Systems are sophisticated computer programs which store expert knowledge on specific subject and are applied to a broad range of engineering problems. Integrated Database applications have facilitated the essential capability of storing data to overcome an increasing information malaise. Integrating these areas of Information Technology (IT) can be used to bring a group of experts in any field of engineering closer together by allowing them to communicate and exchange information and opinions. The central feature of this research study is the integration of these hitherto separate areas of Information Technology (IT). In this thesis an adaptable Graphic User Interface Centred application comprising a Knowledge-Based Expert System (DEMARECEXPERT), a Database Management System (REPCON) and Evaluation program (ECON) alongside visualisation technologies is developed to produce an innovative platform which will facilitate and encourage the development of knowledge in concrete repair. Diagnosis, Evaluation, MAintenance and REpair of Concrete structures (DEMAREQ is a flexible application which can be used in four modes of Education, Diagnostic, Evaluation and Evolution. In the educational mode an inexperienced user can develop a better understanding of the repair of concrete technology by navigating through a database of textual and pictorial data. In the diagnostic mode, pictures and descriptive information taken from the database and performance of the expert system (DEMAREC-EXPERT) are used in a way that makes problem solving and decision making easier. The DEMAREC-EXPERT system is coupled to the REPCON (as an independent database) in order to provide the user with recommendations related to the best course required for maintenance and in the selection of materials and methods for the repair of concrete. In the evaluation mode the conditions observed are described in unambiguous terms that can be used by the user to be able to take engineering and management actions for the repair and maintenance of the structure. In the evolution mode of the application, the nature of distress, repair and maintenance of concrete structures within the extent of the database management system has been assessedT. he new methodology of data/usere valuation could have wider implications in many knowledge rich areas of expertise. The benefit of using REPCON lies in the enhanced levels of confidence which can be attributed to the data and to contribution of that data. Effectively, REPCON is designed to model a true evolution of a field of expertise but allows that expertise to move on in faster and more structured manner. This research has wider implications than within the realm of concrete repair. The methodology described in this thesis is developed to provide tecýnology transfer of information from experts, specialists to other practitioners and vice versa and it provides a common forum for communication and exchange information between them. Indeed, one of the strengths of the system is the way in which it allows the promotion and relegation of knowledge according to the opinion of users of different levels of ability from expert to novice. It creates a flexible environment in which an inexperienced user can develop his knowledge in maintenance and concrete repair structures. It is explained how an expert and a specialist can contribute his experience and knowledge towards improving and evolving the problem solving capability of the application

On the development of an automatic voice pleasantness classification and intensity estimation system

In the last few years, the number of systems and devices that use voice based interaction has grown significantly. For a continued use of these systems, the interface must be reliable and pleasant in order to provide an optimal user experience. However there are currently very few studies that try to evaluate how pleasant is a voice from a perceptual point of view when the final application is a speech based interface. In this paper we present an objective definition for voice pleasantness based on the composition of a representative feature subset and a new automatic voice pleasantness classification and intensity estimation system. Our study is based on a database composed by European Portuguese female voices but the methodology can be extended to male voices or to other languages. In the objective performance evaluation the system achieved a 9.1% error rate for voice pleasantness classification and a 15.7% error rate for voice pleasantness intensity estimation.Work partially supported by ERDF funds, the Spanish Government (TEC2009-14094-C04-04), and Xunta de Galicia (CN2011/019, 2009/062

Evaluating Cloud Migration Options for Relational Databases

Migrating the database layer remains a key challenge when moving a software system to a new cloud provider. The database is often very large, poorly documented, and used to store business-critical information. Most cloud providers offer a variety of services for hosting databases and the most suitable choice depends on the database size, workload, performance requirements, cost, and future business plans. Current approaches do not support this decision-making process, leading to errors and inaccurate comparisons between database migration options. The heterogeneity of databases and clouds means organisations often have to develop their own ad-hoc process to compare the suitability of cloud services for their system. This is time consuming, error prone, and costly. This thesis contributes to addressing these issues by introducing a three-phase methodology for evaluating cloud database migration options. The first phase defines the planning activities, such as, considering downtime tolerance, existing infrastructure, and information sources. The second phase is a novel method for modelling the structure and the workload of the database being migrated. This addresses database heterogeneity by using a multi-dialect SQL grammar and annotated text-to-model transformations. The final phase consumes the models from the second and uses discrete-event simulation to predict migration cost, data transfer duration, and cloud running costs. This involved the extension of the existing CloudSim framework to simulate the data transfer to a new cloud database. An extensive evaluation was performed to assess the effectiveness of each phase of the methodology and of the tools developed to automate their main steps. The modelling phase was applied to 15 real-world systems, and compared to the leading approach there was a substantial improvement in: performance, model completeness, extensibility, and SQL support. The complete methodology was applied to four migrations of two real-world systems. The results from this showed that the methodology provided significantly improved accuracy over existing approaches