A forecasting solution to the oil spill problem based on a hybrid intelligent system

Oil spills represent one of the most destructive environmental disasters. Predicting the possibility of finding oil slicks in a certain area after an oil spill can be critical in reducing environmental risks. The system presented here uses the Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) methodology to forecast the presence or absence of oil slicks in certain open sea areas after an oil spill. CBR is a computational methodology designed to generate solutions to certain problems by analysing previous solutions given to previously solved problems. The proposed CBR system includes a novel network for data classification and retrieval. This type of network, which is constructed by using an algorithm to summarize the results of an ensemble of Self-Organizing Maps, is explained and analysed in the present study. The Weighted Voting Superposition (WeVoS) algorithm mainly aims to achieve the best topographically ordered representation of a dataset in the map. This study shows how the proposed system, called WeVoS-CBR, uses information such as salinity, temperature, pressure, number and area of the slicks, obtained from various satellites to accurately predict the presence of oil slicks in the north-west of the Galician coast, using historical data

Solving the Oil Spill Problem Using a Combination of CBR and a Summarization of SOM Ensembles

In this paper, a forecasting system is presented. It predicts the presence of oil slicks in a certain area of the open sea after an oil spill using Case-Based Reasoning methodology. CBR systems are designed to generate solutions to a certain problem by analysing historical data where previous solutions are stored. The system explained includes a novel network for data classification and retrieval. Such network works as a summarization algorithm for the results of an ensemble of Self-Organizing Maps. This algorithm, called Weighted Voting Superposition (WeVoS), is aimed to achieve the lowest topographic error in the map. The WeVoS-CBR system has been able to precisely predict the presence of oil slicks in the open sea areas of the north west of the Galician coast

Organization based multiagent architecture for distributed environments

[EN]Distributed environments represent a complex field in which applied solutions should be flexible and include significant adaptation capabilities. These environments are related to problems where multiple users and devices may interact, and where simple and local solutions could possibly generate good results, but may not be effective with regards to use and interaction. There are many techniques that can be employed to face this kind of problems, from CORBA to multi-agent systems, passing by web-services and SOA, among others. All those methodologies have their advantages and disadvantages that are properly analyzed in this documents, to finally explain the new architecture presented as a solution for distributed environment problems. The new architecture for solving complex solutions in distributed environments presented here is called OBaMADE: Organization Based Multiagent Architecture for Distributed Environments. It is a multiagent architecture based on the organizations of agents paradigm, where the agents in the architecture are structured into organizations to improve their organizational capabilities. The reasoning power of the architecture is based on the Case-Based Reasoning methology, being implemented in a internal organization that uses agents to create services to solve the external request made by the users. The OBaMADE architecture has been successfully applied to two different case studies where its prediction capabilities have been properly checked. Those case studies have showed optimistic results and, being complex systems, have demonstrated the abstraction and generalizations capabilities of the architecture. Nevertheless OBaMADE is intended to be able to solve much other kind of problems in distributed environments scenarios. It should be applied to other varieties of situations and to other knowledge fields to fully develop its potencial.[ES]Los entornos distribuidos representan un campo de conocimiento complejo en el que las soluciones a aplicar deben ser flexibles y deben contar con gran capacidad de adaptación. Este tipo de entornos está normalmente relacionado con problemas donde varios usuarios y dispositivos entran en juego. Para solucionar dichos problemas, pueden utilizarse sistemas locales que, aunque ofrezcan buenos resultados en términos de calidad de los mismos, no son tan efectivos en cuanto a la interacción y posibilidades de uso. Existen múltiples técnicas que pueden ser empleadas para resolver este tipo de problemas, desde CORBA a sistemas multiagente, pasando por servicios web y SOA, entre otros. Todas estas mitologías tienen sus ventajas e inconvenientes, que se analizan en este documento, para explicar, finalmente, la nueva arquitectura presentada como una solución para los problemas generados en entornos distribuidos. La nueva arquitectura aquí se llama OBaMADE, que es el acrónimo del inglés Organization Based Multiagent Architecture for Distributed Environments (Arquitectura Multiagente Basada en Organizaciones para Entornos Distribuidos). Se trata de una arquitectura multiagente basasa en el paradigma de las organizaciones de agente, donde los agentes que forman parte de la arquitectura se estructuran en organizaciones para mejorar sus capacidades organizativas. La capacidad de razonamiento de la arquitectura está basada en la metodología de razonamiento basado en casos, que se ha implementado en una de las organizaciones internas de la arquitectura por medio de agentes que crean servicios que responden a las solicitudes externas de los usuarios. La arquitectura OBaMADE se ha aplicado de forma exitosa a dos casos de estudio diferentes, en los que se han demostrado sus capacidades predictivas. Aplicando OBaMADE a estos casos de estudio se han obtenido resultados esperanzadores y, al ser sistemas complejos, se han demostrado las capacidades tanto de abstracción como de generalización de la arquitectura presentada. Sin embargo, esta arquitectura está diseñada para poder ser aplicada a más tipo de problemas de entornos distribuidos. Debe ser aplicada a más variadas situaciones y a otros campos de conocimiento para desarrollar completamente el potencial de esta arquitectura

A WeVoS-CBR Approach to Oil Spill Problem

The hybrid intelligent system presented here, forecasts the presence or not of oil slicks in a certain area of the open sea after an oil spill using Case-Based Reasoning methodology. The proposed CBR includes a novel network for data classification and data retrieval. Such network works as a summarization algorithm for the results of an ensemble of Visualization Induced Self-Organizing Maps. This algorithm, called Weighted Voting Superposition (WeVoS), is mainly aimed to achieve the lowest topographic error in the map. The system uses information obtained from various satellites such as salinity, temperature, pressure, number and area of the slicks. WeVoS-CBR system has been able to accurately predict the presence of oil slicks in the north west of the Galician coast, using historical data