Convergence of the materialistic and idealistic in the methodology of urban planning

The realities of the present require changes and development of urban methodology as a science of methods covering the entire methodological chain – from clarifying concepts, streamlining tasks and establishing characteristics of objects to methods of analysis, evaluation and justification of decisions, and urban planning design and management of urban development. The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the methodology of urbanism in the context of convergence (rapprochement, interconnection, interpenetration) of materialistic and idealistic approaches, and to streamline and develop methodological tools for urban planning. Urban planning activity is considered a set of purposes, criteria, priorities, and constraints. The multiplicity of purposes – strategic, tactical, regulatory, and criteria – necessitates changes in methodology, analysis and assessment of spatial situations, and justification of decisions, including the requirements of multicriteria. The design of territorial systems is oriented towards integrated development, increasing the validity and efficiency of the implementation of the concepts of their spatial organisation. The study is methodological – it emphasises the significance of improving the methodological culture and developing the urbanist’s systemic thinking (reflection, worldview), their creative potential and the set of professional knowledge, skills and abilities to implement projects and other functions of professional activity. It is extremely important in the era of large databases and the Internet, changes in planning and research practices, increased capacity and depth of information analysis, and the emergence of new techniques and procedures. Integration of new research methods should be designed to obtain new knowledge about processes and phenomena, establish regularities and increase the validity of the principles of organisation, functioning and development of urbanised systems and territorie

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Systematic Innovation - ICSI 2016

It is our pleasure to welcome you at the 7th International Conference on Systematic Innovation. It is our objective to provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of recent advances in the field of TRIZ Methodology, Knowledge-Based and Systematic Innovation. The goal is to enable practitioners, researchers and scientists to exchange ideas on the these topics and to provide an international forum for exchanging new ideas and recent achievements by the TRIZ community and enabling further advances and collaboration with the industrial community. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the organizing, scientific and technical committees. The reviewers of the papers had a very important job, contributing significantly to the success of the conference. We also wish to express our thanks to our invited speakers. Very special thanks to our students, sponsors and to all who helped us with logistics, conference website, and publications. Welcome to Portugal and Lisbon. We hope you all have a very happy and rewarding meeting.publishersversionpublishe

Network Target Coordination for Design Optimization of Decomposed Systems

A complex engineered system is often decomposed into a number of different subsystems that interact on one another and together produce results not obtainable by the subsystems alone. Effective coordination of the interdependencies shared among these subsystems is critical to fulfill the stakeholder expectations and technical requirements of the original system. The past research has shown that various coordination methods obtain different solution accuracies and exhibit different computational efficiencies when solving a decomposed system. Addressing these coordination decisions may lead to improved complex system design. This dissertation studies coordination methods through two types of decomposition structures, hierarchical, and nonhierarchical. For coordinating hierarchically decomposed systems, linear and proximal cutting plane methods are applied based on augmented Lagrangian relaxation and analytical target cascading (ATC). Three nonconvex, nonlinear design problems are used to verify the numerical performance of the proposed coordination method and the obtained results are compared to traditional update schemes of subgradient-based algorithm. The results suggest that the cutting plane methods can significantly improve the solution accuracy and computational efficiency of the hierarchically decomposed systems. In addition, a biobjective optimization method is also used to capture optimality and feasibility. The numerical performance of the biobjective algorithm is verified by solving an analytical mass allocation problem. For coordinating nonhierarchically decomposed complex systems, network target coordination (NTC) is developed by modeling the distributed subsystems as different agents in a network. To realize parallel computing of the subsystems, NTC via a consensus alternating direction method of multipliers is applied to eliminate the use of the master problem, which is required by most distributed coordination methods. In NTC, the consensus is computed using a locally update scheme, providing the potential to realize an asynchronous solution process. The numerical performance of NTC is verified using a geometrical programming problem and two engineering problems

A framework for evaluating advanced search concepts for multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) mine countermeasures (MCM)

Thesis (Nav.E. and S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, February 2001.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-114).Waterborne mines pose an asymmetric threat to naval forces. Their presence, whether actual or perceived, creates a low-cost yet very powerful deterrent that is notoriously dangerous and time consuming to counter. In recent years, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) have emerged as a viable technology for conducting underwater search, survey, and clearance operations in support of the mine countermeasures (MCM) mission. With continued advances in core technologies such as sensing, navigation, and communication, future AUV MCM operations are likely to involve many vehicles working together to enhance overall capability. Given the almost endless number of design and configuration possibilities for multiple-AUV MCM systems, it is important to understand the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with these systems. This thesis develops an analytical framework for evaluating advanced AUV MCM system concepts. The methodology is based on an existing approach for naval ship design. For the MCM application, distinct performance and effectiveness metrics are used to describe a series of AUV systems in terms of physical/performance characteristics and then to translate those characteristics into numeric values reflecting the mission-effectiveness of each system. The mission effectiveness parameters are organized into a hierarchy and weighted, using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques, according to the warfighter's preferences for a given operational scenario. Utility functions and modeling provide means of relating the effectiveness metrics to the system-level performance parameters. Implementation of this approach involves two computer-based models: a system model and an effectiveness model, which collectively perform the tasks just described. The evaluation framework is demonstrated using two simple case studies involving notional AUV MCM systems. The thesis conclusion discusses applications and future development potential for the evaluation model.by Trent R. Gooding.Nav.E.and S.M

Business-driven resource allocation and management for data centres in cloud computing markets

Cloud Computing markets arise as an efficient way to allocate resources for the execution of tasks and services within a set of geographically dispersed providers from different organisations. Client applications and service providers meet in a market and negotiate for the sales of services by means of the signature of a Service Level Agreement that contains the Quality of Service terms that the Cloud provider has to guarantee by managing properly its resources. Current implementations of Cloud markets suffer from a lack of information flow between the negotiating agents, which sell the resources, and the resource managers that allocate the resources to fulfil the agreed Quality of Service. This thesis establishes an intermediate layer between the market agents and the resource managers. In consequence, agents can perform accurate negotiations by considering the status of the resources in their negotiation models, and providers can manage their resources considering both the performance and the business objectives. This thesis defines a set of policies for the negotiation and enforcement of Service Level Agreements. Such policies deal with different Business-Level Objectives: maximisation of the revenue, classification of clients, trust and reputation maximisation, and risk minimisation. This thesis demonstrates the effectiveness of such policies by means of fine-grained simulations. A pricing model may be influenced by many parameters. The weight of such parameters within the final model is not always known, or it can change as the market environment evolves. This thesis models and evaluates how the providers can self-adapt to changing environments by means of genetic algorithms. Providers that rapidly adapt to changes in the environment achieve higher revenues than providers that do not. Policies are usually conceived for the short term: they model the behaviour of the system by considering the current status and the expected immediate after their application. This thesis defines and evaluates a trust and reputation system that enforces providers to consider the impact of their decisions in the long term. The trust and reputation system expels providers and clients with dishonest behaviour, and providers that consider the impact of their reputation in their actions improve on the achievement of their Business-Level Objectives. Finally, this thesis studies the risk as the effects of the uncertainty over the expected outcomes of cloud providers. The particularities of cloud appliances as a set of interconnected resources are studied, as well as how the risk is propagated through the linked nodes. Incorporating risk models helps providers differentiate Service Level Agreements according to their risk, take preventive actions in the focus of the risk, and pricing accordingly. Applying risk management raises the fulfilment rate of the Service-Level Agreements and increases the profit of the providerPostprint (published version

Multi objective collaborative optimization of systems of systems

Thesis (Nav. E.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-88).Concept studies for warship designs typically focus on ship performance characteristics by setting design goals for such things as speed, range, and cost. However, warships generally operate as part of a larger battle or strike group. Therefore, the designs should be evaluated as part of a system of multiple ship systems since designing each ship individually may result in underutilized and excess equipment and capability; in other words an inefficient design of the system of systems. This thesis examines the simultaneous design of several ships using the sea base concept as an example application of a network of ships working together. The number and characteristics of these ships determine the mission performance of the sea base. To properly design any of the sea base ships, the interrelationships must be included. A mission simulation is used to combine the performance characteristics of different ship designs into a single performance objective: the time to deliver a brigade size combat force to its assigned objectives.(cont.) To enable the design of multiple ships, collaborative optimization, a multilevel optimization approach, was used to decompose the problem into individual ship design optimizations with system level interfaces controlled by a system of systems optimization algorithm. This allowed each ship to use techniques and algorithms best suited to reach an optimal design without impacting the design approaches used by the other ships. The classical collaborative optimization approach was relaxed to include multiple objectives such as performance and cost, thus developing a range of solutions which represent the tradeoff between these objectives.by Robert A. Wolf.S.M.Nav.E

Framework for evaluating water quality information system performance

1994 Fall.Includes bibliographic references (pages 280-308).Water resource and water quality managers are being held increasingly accountable for the programs they manage. Much progress has been made in applying total systems perspectives to the design and operation of water quality monitoring and information programs, and towards rationalizing those programs with respect to management objectives and information needs. A recent example of that progress is the development of data analysis protocols to enhance the information system design process. However, further work is necessary to develop approaches which can help managers confront the water quality management environment of the future, which will be characterized by: (1) fewer purely technical questions, (2) more complex problems with social, economic, political and legal ramifications, and (3) actively managed and continuously improved water quality information systems. This research concludes that the management of water quality information systems for continuous improvement requires: (1) a competent system design process, (2) comprehensive documentation of system design and operation, and (3) a routine and thorough performance measurement and evaluation process. The framework for evaluating water quality information system performance presented in this dissertation integrates the experience of several disciplines into an instrument to help water quality managers accomplish these requirements. The framework embodies four phases: (1) evaluation planning, (2) watershed and management system analyses, (3) information system analysis, and (4) information system performance evaluation. The application of the framework is demonstrated in the evaluation of water quality monitoring programs associated with a unique municipal water transfer project. Water quality professionals of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey are surveyed as to its potential application to large (e.g., regional or national) systems. Those exercises indicate the framework to be a convenient, economic, and flexible instrument useful towards enhancing water quality information system performance. Recommendations for future research to refine the framework and to extend its scope and utility are also presented

Empirically characterizing evolvability and changeability in engineering systems

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2012."June 2012." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-212).The beginning phases of system development and conceptual design require careful consideration, as these decisions will have significant influence on system lifetime performance and are often made with incomplete system knowledge. Decision makers may improve their capacity to discriminate between system concepts and design choices by measuring a system's "ilities" such as changeability, evolvability, and survivability. These ilities may enable systems to respond to perturbations in the design space, context space, and needs space in order to ensure system functionality and adequate performance over time. A system may be designed to change in response to perturbations, or remain statically robust/survivable to perturbations in order to avoid deficiencies or failures. This research attempts to analyze the mechanisms that allow system changes to occur. More specifically, this research will further the characterization of system changeability and evolvability and ultimately provide a structured and meaningful way of classifying system characteristics often described as "ilities". Value sustainment is proposed as an ultimate goal of systems, providing value in spite of perturbations in design, context, or needs. The premise of value sustainment is investigated through four distinct research thrusts: 1) a basis for defining system changes and ilities; 2) a system change examples database with categorical cluster analysis case research; 3) epoch-shift, impact, response, outcome case research; and 4) expert interviews case research. Focusing on change-related ilities, this research proposes constructs for identifying and enabling vague, yet desirable, system properties. Evolvability is characterized as a subset of changeability and defined as the ability of an architecture to be inherited and changed across generations [over time], with a set of ten proposed design principles including decentralization, redundancy, targeted modularity, scalability, integrability, reconfigurability, mimicry, leverage ancestry, disruptive architectural overhaul, and resourceful exaptation.by Jay Clark Beesemyer, Jr.S.M

Geodesign för lokal spatial planering : finlandssvenska byaplaner i teoristyrd illustrerande fallstudie

Climate change and the threat of an ecological collapse in the near future calls for rapid invention of new methods and tools at the service of informed decision making. Backed by academics Esri, Environmental Systems Research Institute – a multinational company and market leader in GIS (geographic information systems) have spread the word of geodesign as meeting sustainability demands in a variety of forms, allowing design processes based on science as well as values. Esri have been clear on creating a community, collaboratively developing the concept further, to meet global spatially related design challenges. The technological maturity have reach a critical level allowing new forms of fusions between geographic information systems (GIS) and design, but complete technological solutions are not yet available. In the study three research questions are answered. Two are, shortly, what is geodesign and what might it mean for professionals in geoinformatics. The study penetrates the concept of geodesign, using a qualitative and holistic approach. The components central to geodesign are highlighted, keeping the focus on the geospatial dimension of geodesign and the relevance for village planning. Village planning is a design process with deep local roots. The collective vision and will for the future is documented. The study introduces and discusses village planning according to changes in society and the demands it brings upon the villages; decentralized responsibilities and fulfillment of local democracy. The implications of geodesign on the spatial dimension of village planning is answered in the third research question. Finland-Swedish village plans are analyzed in theory-driven illustrative case study. Steinitz framework for geodesign is used as an analytic framework in a theory-driven illustrative case study. Supporting questions included in Steinitz framework, a procedure originally developed for landscape planning but now considered useful for geodesign in general, is used as analytic framework. The framework's analytical contribution is supplemented with interpretation based on knowledge of GIS, geodesign and village planning. The premise in the study is that geodesign have the potential to master a variety design processes while providing a timely concept for village planning. In relation to geodesign, village planning is analyzed as a local endogenous design process, showing high degree of participation. Steinitz framework consists of six models with pairwise relations. On the axis process models-change models a lacking correspondence in the village plans is identified, also a general lack in the holistic approach is identified, especially in systems and process thinking. The village plans also shows distinct strengths. The most prominent is the degree of participation. This means that village planning have potential to be supported by geodesign but also provide a model for citizen-led geodesign. Geodesign can be seen as theoretical and benefits obscure. In this study analytical results and interpretation illustrates what the theoretical approach of geodesign means in practice. Quotes from village plans supplemented with graphics, supporting the comparison of the similarities and differences between Steinitz framework and village planning, highlights the concept geodesign and brings it closer a real application in village planning.Klimatförändringen och ett globalt hot om en närstående ekologisk kollaps framkallar ett akut behov av metoder och verktyg till stöd för informerat beslutsfattande. Esri, Environmental Systems Research Institute – ett multinationellt företag och en dominerande aktör på marknaden för geografiska informationssystem (GIS) – har med stöd av akademiska krafter marknadsfört geodesign som en fusion mellan GIS och design, som en designform där värderingar och vetenskap möts och hållbarhet eftersträvas. Esri uppmanar till en gemensam kraftansträngning för att tackla globala spatiala designproblem. Teknologin för holistisk, geospatial och kollaborativ design är mogen men kompletta teknologiska lösningar saknas. I studien besvaras tre forskningsfrågor varav två i korthet är vad geodesign är och vad geodesign kan betyda för en geoinformatiker. Denna studie tränger, med ett kvalitativt och holistiskt grepp, djuplodande ner i konceptet geodesign. I studien benas de centrala komponenterna i geodesign ut och blickfånget är på den geospatiala dimensionen av geodesign och dess relevans för byaplanering – en lokalt förankrad designprocess där byborna dokumenterar sin gemensamma viljeyttring om framtiden i en byaplan. Byaplanering introduceras och behandlas utgående från de omställningar samhället står inför och de förväntningar som projiceras på byarna; Byarna ska sätta lokaldemokrati i verket och överta ansvar som decentraliserats. Den tredje och sista forskningsfrågan som besvaras i denna studie är vad geodesign innebär för byaplaneringens spatiala dimension. Finlandssvenska byaplaner analyseras i en teoristyrd illustrerande fallstudie. Som analytiskt ramverk används stödfrågor ur Steinitz ramverk för geodesign, ett förfarande med bakgrund i landskapsplanering, men som också accepterats som ett ramverk för geodesign i allmänhet. Ramverkets analytiska bidrag kompletteras i studien med en teoretiskt informerad tolkning baserad på kunskap om GIS, geodesign och byaplanering. Analysens utgångspunkt är att geodesign har potential att bemästra ett brett spektrum designprocesser och samtidigt utgöra ett tidsenligt koncept för byaplanering. Byaplaneringen analyseras, i förhållande till geodesign, som en lokal endogen designprocess med hög deltagandegrad. Steinitz ramverk består av sex modeller med parvisa samband. I byaplanerna identifieras i studien en lucka i axeln processmodeller-förändringsmodeller. Även tydliga svagheter i byaplaneringens holistiska grepp identifieras, speciellt i system- och processtänkande. Byaplaneringen har också tydliga styrkor. Den mest framträdande är deltagandegraden. Detta innebär att byaplaneringen har goda förutsättningar att stödas av geodesign men kan också utgöra en modell för medborgarledd geodesign. Geodesign kan uppfattas som teoretiskt och fördelarna som dunkla. I denna studie vävs analysresultat och tolkning samman och illustrerar vad den teoretiska ansatsen i geodesign innebär i praktiken. Citat ur byaplaner, kompletterat med visuellt stöd för tolkning av beröringspunkter mellan Steinitz ramverk och byaplanering, belyser konceptet geodesign och för det närmare en praktisk tillämpning i byaplanering