Agent programming in the cognitive era

It is claimed that, in the nascent ‘Cognitive Era’, intelligent systems will be trained using machine learning techniques rather than programmed by software developers. A contrary point of view argues that machine learning has limitations, and, taken in isolation, cannot form the basis of autonomous systems capable of intelligent behaviour in complex environments. In this paper, we explore the contributions that agent-oriented programming can make to the development of future intelligent systems. We briefly review the state of the art in agent programming, focussing particularly on BDI-based agent programming languages, and discuss previous work on integrating AI techniques (including machine learning) in agent-oriented programming. We argue that the unique strengths of BDI agent languages provide an ideal framework for integrating the wide range of AI capabilities necessary for progress towards the next-generation of intelligent systems. We identify a range of possible approaches to integrating AI into a BDI agent architecture. Some of these approaches, e.g., ‘AI as a service’, exploit immediate synergies between rapidly maturing AI techniques and agent programming, while others, e.g., ‘AI embedded into agents’ raise more fundamental research questions, and we sketch a programme of research directed towards identifying the most appropriate ways of integrating AI capabilities into agent programs

Engineering Multi-Agent Systems. 5th International Workshop, EMAS 2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 8-9, 2017, Revised Selected Papers

Since the first edition in 2013, the International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems (EMAS) is a reference venue where software engineering, MAS, and artificial intelligence researchers can meet, discuss different viewpoints and findings, and share them with industry. Originally set up by merging three separate historical workshops \u2013 AOSE, focusing on software engineering aspects, ProMAS about programming aspects, and DALT about the application of declarative techniques to design, program, and verification of MAS \u2013 EMAS overall purpose is to facilitate the cross- fertilisation of ideas and experiences in the various fields to: \u2013 enhance knowledge and expertise in MAS engineering and improve the state or-the art; \u2013 define new directions for MAS engineering that are useful to practitioners, relying in results and recommendations coming from different but continuous research areas; \u2013 investigate how practitioners can use or need to adapt established method- ologies for the engineering of large-scale and open MAS. Like in previous editions, also the 5th edition of the workshop has been co-located with AAMAS (International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems) which in 2017 took place in Brasil, Sao Paulo. The previous editions were held in St. Paul (LNAI 8245), in Paris (LNAI 8758), in Istanbul (LNAI 9318) and in Singapore (LNAI 10093). This year the EMAS workshop was held as a two-day event. Eighteen papers were submitted to the workshop and after a double review process, ten papers were selected for inclusion in this volume. All the contributions were revised by taking into account the comments received and the discussions at the workshop. Among them, the paper \u201cApproaching Interactions in Agent-Based Modelling with an Affordance Perspective\u201d by Franziska Klu \u308gl and Sabine Timpf also ap- pears in LNAI 10642 [Sukthankar G., Rodriguez-Aguilar J. (eds), AAMAS 2017 Ws Best Papers, LNAI 10642, 2017, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71682-4 14], since it was selected as the best paper of the workshop. Finally, we would like to thank the members of the Program Committee for their work during the reviewing phase, as well as the members of the EMAS Steering Committee for their valuable suggestions and support. We also ac- knowledge the EasyChair conference management system for its support for the workshop organisation process

Engineering Multi-Agent Systems [electronic resource] : 5th International Workshop, EMAS 2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 8-9, 2017, Revised Selected Papers /

This book constitutes the revised and selected papers from the 5th International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May 2018, in conjunction with AAMAS 2018. The 11 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 18 submissions. The book contains also the best paper of the workshop that has been published previously in another LNCS volume. The EMAS workshop focusses on the cross-fertilisation of ideas and experiences in the various fields with the aim to enhance knowledge and expertise in MAS engineering , to improve the state-of-the-art, to define new directions for MAS engineering, to investigate how established methodologies for engineering and large-scale and open MAS can be adapted.Cross-fertilisation of ideas and experiences in the various fields with the aim to enhance knowledge and expertise in MAS engineering -- Improving the state-of-the-art -- Defining new directions for MAS engineering-. Investigating how established methodologies for engineering and large-scale and open MAS can be adapted.This book constitutes the revised and selected papers from the 5th International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May 2018, in conjunction with AAMAS 2018. The 11 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 18 submissions. The book contains also the best paper of the workshop that has been published previously in another LNCS volume. The EMAS workshop focusses on the cross-fertilisation of ideas and experiences in the various fields with the aim to enhance knowledge and expertise in MAS engineering , to improve the state-of-the-art, to define new directions for MAS engineering, to investigate how established methodologies for engineering and large-scale and open MAS can be adapted

Sustainability in design: now! Challenges and opportunities for design research, education and practice in the XXI century

Copyright @ 2010 Greenleaf PublicationsLeNS project funded by the Asia Link Programme, EuropeAid, European Commission

An aesthetic for sustainable interactions in product-service systems?

Copyright @ 2012 Greenleaf PublishingEco-efficient Product-Service System (PSS) innovations represent a promising approach to sustainability. However the application of this concept is still very limited because its implementation and diffusion is hindered by several barriers (cultural, corporate and regulative ones). The paper investigates the barriers that affect the attractiveness and acceptation of eco-efficient PSS alternatives, and opens the debate on the aesthetic of eco-efficient PSS, and the way in which aesthetic could enhance some specific inner qualities of this kinds of innovations. Integrating insights from semiotics, the paper outlines some first research hypothesis on how the aesthetic elements of an eco-efficient PSS could facilitate user attraction, acceptation and satisfaction

Laws of investment and environmental protection : the case of Ethiopian largescale agriculture

A contradiction between the Ethiopian law of investment and environmental law is prevalent since law of investment promotes development while environmental law protects the environment. The thesis investigates the general legal issue: How do the investment and environmental laws of Ethiopia promote large-scale agricultural development without adversely affecting the environment? In the research, comparative legal research methodology is employed: comparison is made between the internationally accepted principles of large-scale agricultural investment and Ethiopian laws; the laws and experiences of Brazil and South Africa are showed that law of sustainable large-scale agricultural investment is vital to promote agricultural development and protect the environment. International law on investment and environment are also considered. International legal principles of solving the contradiction between environmental law and investment law are analysed. Legal and document analysis of Ethiopian laws, policies and government documents have been made. Interviews have been made, data through questionnaires have been collected and analysed, and 12 large-scale agricultural investment farms have been observed and critically analysed. The thesis identified that law of large-scale agricultural investment promotes development while Ethiopian environmental law protects the environment. The law has a role in promoting large-scale agricultural development by recognising the right to development and providing incentives and creating conducive environment. Thus, the law should be used to promote both the right to development and environmental protection. The nexus between investment law and environmental law should be strengthening. It is identified that the law of sustainable large-scale agricultural development could protect the environment while promoting large-scale agricultural development. The thesis identified the Ethiopian law and the practices do not promote sustainable large-scale agricultural development. Thus, it is recommended that precautionary principle, like EIA should be made a requirement for large-scale agricultural investment, implementing efficiently and effectively the large-scale agricultural law principles, and laws to achieve sustainable large-scale agriculture.Public, Constitutional and International LawLL. D

Place, recreation and local development

Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas (MMV9), Bordeaux, FRA, 29-/08/2018 - 31/08/2018It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 9th international Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas (MMV9) with a program including keynote speeches, organized and poster sessions, a half-day field trip, social events and post conference trips. This is the first time that France has hosted an MMV Conference. Our country is ranked as the world's top tourist destination, thanks largely to its culture, art, and gastronomy, as well as popular cities such as Paris and Bordeaux. On the other hand, France's potential as a destination for outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism is not hugely publicized, despite its many unique features in this respect: varied climate and natural assets (shoreline, mountains, lakes, and forests), large expanses of countryside, and a network of protected natural areas, to name but a few. France's protected areas are often free to access for the general public. However, in contrast with other countries, nature conservation in specific areas is much less widespread. Where it does take place, it is often centered on territories that are perceived to be "attractive", and where many conflicting activities are practiced. This may be one of the reasons why contractual tools and regional park systems are quite popular in France. The MMV Conference offers an excellent opportunity to discuss the situation in France in greater depth. The theme proposed for the conference was "recreation, place and local development". This reflects our assumption that recreational areas are not just physical assets designed to receive visitors for the purpose of leisure - which in itself would already be something of great importance - but that they reflect deeper social phenomena, as demonstrated through the range of organized sessions dedicated to discussing questions such as environmental education and economic development, but also emerging themes such as social integration, community resilience, environmental justice, and health. The traditional topics covered by MMV Conference reflect an evolving society: with innovations in monitoring techniques (both on people and nature), focus on new populations (Y generation, ethnic minority) and a larger concern for individual engagement and participative management. The 9th Edition of MMV is co-hosted by Irstea and BSA. This would not have been possible without significant contributions from a large number of additional partners and sponsors as well as our national scientific and organizing committee. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help. After two years of planning, we are proud to announce that we have more than 160 presentations from 30 countries, meaning that the conference will host over 200 participants from across the globe. We are honored that the International Steering Committee has given us the opportunity to be part of this great MMV community, which organized its first meeting in 2002. We hope you will enjoy the conference as much as we enjoyed organizing it. If you can't be with us in person, we hope that you will enjoy reading our publications