Automated generation of geometrically-precise and semantically-informed virtual geographic environnements populated with spatially-reasoning agents

La Géo-Simulation Multi-Agent (GSMA) est un paradigme de modélisation et de simulation de phénomènes dynamiques dans une variété de domaines d'applications tels que le domaine du transport, le domaine des télécommunications, le domaine environnemental, etc. La GSMA est utilisée pour étudier et analyser des phénomènes qui mettent en jeu un grand nombre d'acteurs simulés (implémentés par des agents) qui évoluent et interagissent avec une représentation explicite de l'espace qu'on appelle Environnement Géographique Virtuel (EGV). Afin de pouvoir interagir avec son environnement géographique qui peut être dynamique, complexe et étendu (à grande échelle), un agent doit d'abord disposer d'une représentation détaillée de ce dernier. Les EGV classiques se limitent généralement à une représentation géométrique du monde réel laissant de côté les informations topologiques et sémantiques qui le caractérisent. Ceci a pour conséquence d'une part de produire des simulations multi-agents non plausibles, et, d'autre part, de réduire les capacités de raisonnement spatial des agents situés. La planification de chemin est un exemple typique de raisonnement spatial dont un agent pourrait avoir besoin dans une GSMA. Les approches classiques de planification de chemin se limitent à calculer un chemin qui lie deux positions situées dans l'espace et qui soit sans obstacle. Ces approches ne prennent pas en compte les caractéristiques de l'environnement (topologiques et sémantiques), ni celles des agents (types et capacités). Les agents situés ne possèdent donc pas de moyens leur permettant d'acquérir les connaissances nécessaires sur l'environnement virtuel pour pouvoir prendre une décision spatiale informée. Pour répondre à ces limites, nous proposons une nouvelle approche pour générer automatiquement des Environnements Géographiques Virtuels Informés (EGVI) en utilisant les données fournies par les Systèmes d'Information Géographique (SIG) enrichies par des informations sémantiques pour produire des GSMA précises et plus réalistes. De plus, nous présentons un algorithme de planification hiérarchique de chemin qui tire avantage de la description enrichie et optimisée de l'EGVI pour fournir aux agents un chemin qui tient compte à la fois des caractéristiques de leur environnement virtuel et de leurs types et capacités. Finalement, nous proposons une approche pour la gestion des connaissances sur l'environnement virtuel qui vise à supporter la prise de décision informée et le raisonnement spatial des agents situés

The mediating role of entrepreneurial leadership: an investigation of the competitiveness of SMEs in the UK South-West food and drink manufacturing

ABSTRACT It has long been argued that Social Capital, a concept represented by the value embedded in the social relationships of individuals or collectives constitute strategic resources for individuals and organisations. Social networks are thus perceived by businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, as a means to access those resources, for example gaining privileged access to strategic information that could secure financial resources. In reality, and because of the inherent characteristics of Social Capital, entrepreneurs or business owner/managers who effectively use resources available within social networks are driven by a clear and compelling vision and sustained by a set of leadership attributes which are in line with the process of recognising, evaluating and exploiting opportunities. This study reinforces the concept of Entrepreneurship as a multi-social construct. Using survey data from 359 SMEs in UK South West food and drink manufacturing, this study uses a structural equation model to evaluate the relationships of interdependence between Social Capital, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Process. The mediating role of leadership in this interaction first, explains the relationship between Social Capital and Entrepreneurship Process and second, exposes the entrepreneurial behaviour common among SW food and drink manufacturers as the underlying explanatory factor of the competitiveness. Notwithstanding the prevalence of social networks, the level of brokerage appears to be very concentrated on closed networks with providers of professional services and local associations. This inadequate level of brokerage heightens the existence of structural holes which points to a situation of ‘over-socialisation’ suggesting that social norms prescribe economic action. The lack of appropriate market knowledge among ii owners/managers of small medium enterprises in the UK South West food and drink manufacturing frustrates the formulation of a comprehensive vision, in spite of the fact that values of ‘hard work’, ‘continued improvement’ and ‘ambition are largely shared among them. The main findings contribute toward a better understanding of Social Capital as distinct from social networks and the leadership role in business competitiveness. It makes a significant contribution to the debate on the integration of individual and environmental perspectives as a direction of future research on the understanding of Entrepreneurship. The study implications address policy-makers and business managers in filling the skills and knowledge gaps which are restraining the competitiveness of SMEs in this important and strategic sectorself-sponsore

Advancing PSS with complex urban systems sciences and scalable spatio-temporal models

Planning Support System (PSS) with a core of dynamic spatio-temporal model has been developed as analytical and information tools to aid and inform urban planning processes. However, scholarly communities identify that PSS has yet been popularized in planning practices, and not fully capable of meeting the challenge of understanding complex urban environments. I am dedicated to investigate and break through the bottlenecks of PSS with my experiences with University of Illinois Landuse Evolution and Impact Assessment Model (LEAM) PSS, which exemplify a PSS that that aid the process of collaboratively building spatio-temporal scenario models and transferring the knowledge to planning practitioners. I explore the future applications of PSS including Smart Cities, sentience, resilience, and environmental planning processes and their role in improving PSS usefulness in the practice of planning. PSS improvements will be presented in terms of multi-directional spatio-temporal processes and scenario planning. Moreover, I will address the process of transferring knowledge to users on model validity and ‘goodness-of-fit’ in real world planning applications. Beyond the traditional theoretical framework of PSS, the emerging Complex Urban System Sciences (CUS) challenge the core assumptions of spatial models of PSS, and pose opportunities for updating current PSS approaches into scalable spatio-temporal model that adheres to CUS principles. I will analyze this potential infusion by examining next generation PSSs within a framework of current CUS theories and advancement in statistical and computational methods. Case studies involved in my dissertation include LEAM PSS’ applications in McHenry County (IL), Peoria (IL), Chicago (IL), and St. Louis (MO). The final part of this dissertation highlights my contributions to the existing CUS theories. I will demonstrates how evidence from empirical applications can contribute to CUS theory itself. I will show how CUS can challenge the core assumptions of “distance to CBD” models that economists use to characterize urban structure and land-use

Developing entrepreneurial ecosystems - Characteristics and challenges for entrepreneurship policy

Entrepreneurship is generally recognized as a source of economic growth. Recently entrepreneurship research has shifted its focus from entrepreneurs and firms, towards the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE). This emerging concept merits growing attention from academics and policymakers to the point of representing a leading drift in entrepreneurship policy and development strategies of numerous countries and regions. As well as capturing the attention of a growing number of scholars, from which emerges an appealing and fast-growing body of literature. However, the study of EE is recent, undertheorized, and fragmented. Gaps in this body of literature suggest there is a need to extend EE research and develop solid and coherent theoretical frameworks, particularly in what concerns to the effects of entrepreneurship policies. Policy and entrepreneurship are symbiotically interconnected, where research plays an important role in providing policymakers valuable insights. Without adequate theoretical foundations to guide its formulation, policies risk being ineffective and even hinder the development of EEs. This research is motivated by calls for the development of policy related research, regarding the development of EEs, and aims to provide a clearer view of the characteristics, formulation options and implementation process of these policies. This research followed a multi-method approach. Beginning with an analysis of six EE qualitative studies from different countries, to extract the characteristics of effective EE policies (EEP). The second part of the research departs from extant literature to identify the parameters for EEP formulation and provide a conceptual framework to guide its formulation. The third part addresses the process of EEP formulation and implementation, extending the use of effectuation theory to provide an improved model supported by empirical illustrations of policies evidencing effectual characteristics. The fourth part includes the analysis of the impact of digital technology in the development of EEs by using the concept of affordances; DESENVOLVIMENTO DE ECOSSISTEMAS DE EMPREENDEDORISMO – CARACTERÍSTICAS E DESAFIOS PARA AS POLÍTICAS DE EMPREENDEDORISMO Resumo: O empreendedorismo é globalmente reconhecido como uma fonte de crescimento económico. Recentemente, a investigação na área do empreendedorismo transferiu o seu foco dos empreendedores e empresas para o desenvolvimento de ecossistemas empreendedores (EE). Este conceito emergente desperta uma atenção crescente de académicos e policymakers, representando uma tendência dominante na política de empreendedorismo e nas estratégias de desenvolvimento de vários países e regiões. Simultaneamente tem captado a atenção de um número crescente de académicos, gerando uma literatura cativante e em rápido crescimento. No entanto, o estudo dos EE é recente, pouco teorizado e fragmentado. As lacunas nesta literatura sugerem a necessidade de alargar a investigação e desenvolver fundamentos teóricos sólidos e coerentes, especialmente quanto aos efeitos das políticas de empreendedorismo. Política e empreendedorismo estão simbioticamente interligados, promover mais investigação é fundamental para desenvolver conhecimento relevante para os policymakers. Sem fundamentos teóricos adequados para orientar a formulação de políticas, estas arriscam ser ineficazes e até prejudicar o desenvolvimento dos EEs. A investigação produzida nesta tese é motivada por sucessivos apelos ao desenvolvimento de pesquisa relacionada com políticas de desenvolvimento de EEs (EEP) e visa fornecer uma visão mais clara das suas características, opções de formulação e processo de implementação. Esta investigação seguiu uma abordagem multi-método. Começando com uma análise de seis estudos qualitativos de diferentes países, a qual permitiu extrair características de EEPs eficazes. A segunda parte partiu da literatura existente, identificando parâmetros para a formulação das EEP e desenvolver uma estrutura conceptual para a sua formulação. A terceira parte, aborda o processo de formulação e implementação de políticas, recorrendo à teoria da effectuation desenvolvendo um modelo melhorado para as EEP, apoiado por ilustrações empíricas de EEP com características effectual. Por fim, na quarta parte é analisado o impacto da tecnologia digital no desenvolvimento de EEs, utilizando o conceito de affordances

Felt_space infrastructure: Hyper vigilant spatiality to valence the visceral dimension

Felt_space infrastructure: Hypervigilant spatiality to valence the visceral dimension. This thesis evolves perception as a hypothesis to reframe architectural praxis negotiated through agent-situation interaction. The research questions the geometric principles of architectural ordination to originate the ‘felt_space infrastructure’, a relational system of measurement concerned with the role of perception in mediating sensory space and the cognised environment. The methodological model for this research fuses perception and environmental stimuli, into a consistent generative process that penetrates the inner essence of space, to reveal the visceral parameter. These concepts are applied to develop a ‘coefficient of affordance’ typology, ‘hypervigilant’ tool set, and ‘cognitive_tope’ design methodology. Thus, by extending the architectural platform to consider perception as a design parameter, the thesis interprets the ‘inference schema’ as an instructional model to coordinate the acquisition of spatial reality through tensional and counter-tensional feedback dynamics. Three site-responsive case studies are used to advance the thesis. The first case study is descriptive and develops a typology of situated cognition to extend the ‘granularity’ of perceptual sensitisation (i.e. a fine-grained means of perceiving space). The second project is relational and questions how mapping can coordinate perceptual, cognitive and associative attention, as a ‘multi-webbed vector field’ comprised of attractors and deformations within a viewer-centred gravitational space. The third case study is causal, and demonstrates how a transactional-biased schema can generate, amplify and attenuate perceptual misalignment, thus triggering a visceral niche. The significance of the research is that it progresses generative perception as an additional variable for spatial practice, and promotes transactional methodologies to gain enhanced modes of spatial acuity to extend the repertoire of architectural practice