Approaches to the reuse of plan schemata in planning formalisms

Planning in complex domains is normally a resource and time consuming process when it is purely based on first principles. Once a plan is generated it represents problem solving knowledge. It implicitly describes knowledge used by the planning system to achieve a given goal state from a particular initial state. In classical planning systems, this knowledge is often lost after the plan has been successfully executed. If such a planner has to solve the same problem again, it will spend the same planning effort to solve it and is not capable of "learning\u27; from its "experience\u27;. Therefore it seems to be useful to save generated plans for a later reuse and thus, extending the problem solving knowledge possessed by the planner. The planning knowledge can now be applied to find out whether a problem can be solved by adapting an already existing plan. The aim of this paper is to analyze the problem of plan reuse and to describe the state of the art based on a variety of approaches which might contribute to a solution of the problem. It describes the main problems and results that could be of some relevance for the integration of plan reuse into a deductive planning formalism. As a result, this description of the state of the art leads to a deeper insight into the complex problem of plan reuse, but also shows that the problem itself is still far from being solved

Using graphical style and visibility constraints for a meaningful layout in visual programming interfaces

In the expanding field of visual applications, layout design and graphical editing tasks are crucial points. In this paper, we address the incorporation of AI aspects in the visual software design process and the automatic layout and beautification of informational graphics such as visual programs and chart diagrams. Since layout in dynamic settings frequently requires a direct manipulation responsiveness, an incremental redesign of the generated visual material is necessary. Following our previous work on constraint-based multimodal design, we show how powerful constraint processing techniques, such as constraint hierarchies and dynamic constraint satisfaction, can be applied to visual programming environments in order to maintain graphical style and consistency for a meaningful layout. We describe InLay, a system for constraint-based presenting and editing visual programs. Finally, we will have a short look at some extensions with regard to advanced interaction and visualization techniques

An integration framework for managing rich organisational process knowledge

The problem we have addressed in this dissertation is that of designing a pragmatic framework for integrating the synthesis and management of organisational process knowledge which is based on domain-independent AI planning and plan representations. Our solution has focused on a set of framework components which provide methods, tools and representations to accomplish this task.In the framework we address a lifecycle of this knowledge which begins with a methodological approach to acquiring information about the process domain. We show that this initial domain specification can be translated into a common constraint-based model of activity (based on the work of Tate, 1996c and 1996d) which can then be operationalised for use in an AI planner. This model of activity is ontologically underpinned and may be expressed with a flexible and extensible language based on a sorted first-order logic. The model combines perspectives covering both the space of behaviour as well as the space of decisions. Synthesised or modified processes/plans can be translated to and from the common representation in order to support knowledge sharing, visualisation and mixed-initiative interaction.This work united past and present Edinburgh research on planning and infused it with perspectives from design rationale, requirements engineering, and process knowledge sharing. The implementation has been applied to a portfolio of scenarios which include process examples from business, manufacturing, construction and military operations. An archive of this work is available at: http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/~oplan/cpf

An Introduction to Zooarchaeology

zooarchaeology is a self-reproducing field taught in many university departments of anthropology or archaeology. As archaeologists have literally taken faunal analysis into their own hands, they have debated how best to use animal remains to study everything from early hominin hunting or scavenging to animal production in ancient market economies. Animal remains from archaeological sites have been used to infer three kinds of information: the age of deposits (chronology); paleoenvironment and paleoecological relations among humans and other species; human choices and actions related to use of animals as food and raw materials. Methods for reconstructing human diet and behavior have undergone the greatest growth over the last four decades, and most of this book addresses the second and third areas. This book deals with what I know best: vertebrate zooarchaeology, and within that, analysis of mammalian bones and teeth

Southern Plains hunter-gatherer adaptations during the Late Archaic: A study in optimal foraging.

In this study, optimal foraging theory is used to evaluate hunting and butchering practices as well as the residence patterns of Late Archaic hunter-gatherers from the southern Plains. Their behavior is represented in the archaeological record by sites, features, and artifacts. Prior to exploring the data, the tenants of optimal foraging theory and central-place foraging, are presented. The first aspect of central-place foraging is that a group will venture from a home base to acquire resources. The second aspect of the theory states that special task groups are used to acquire the said resources. Once located, the resources were returned to the base. In order to better explain the task group aspect of the equation, the group foraging size theorem is employed. The theorem states that the task group's success is contingent on the appropriate number of individuals being available coupled with the appropriate resource placement on the landscape. To check the validity of this argument, two test implications are formulated using the above theoretical constructs. Test #1 is used for Beaver Dam (reliance on a home base) whereas Test #2 is applied to L. E. Certain (employment of a resource encounter and exploitation site). Initially, I set forth the expectations. Then, utilizing the evidence found at the sites, the implications are discussed. Beaver Dam, the base camp, is discussed first since this is where forays into the surrounding biomes originate. This discussion is followed by an assessment of L. E. Certain, a special extractive camp. The data revealed that Late Archaic groups maximized net energy intake while reducing energy expenditure by using a base of operation, that base being situated in an area where multiple resources were gathered just a short distance from camp. When a resource was abundant and some distance from camp, the strategy was to harvest the resource using a specially qualified group. In this study, the groups were bison hunting taskforces. These hunters embarked on their mission with a set of highly specialized stone tools to kill and process the game. The bison meat was procured utilizing butchering techniques that produced large amounts of meat and other byproducts quickly. While some of the meat was eaten on-site, most was dried and returned to camp. That this response was successful is indicated by the fact that large-scale bison kills were conducted at the L. E. Certain site for over 500 years

Stakeholder Management in Maritime Logistics Ecosystems: How tackling the main challenges of the industry

This PhD thesis deals with stakeholder management theoretical constructs and empirical practices within maritime logistics ecosystems. The rationale of the study grounds on the recent shift of the academic literature\u2019s focus on maritime logistics from the single organisation to the whole business ecosystem. In this perspective, formal and informal relationships with business partners and related parties have been demonstrated to become fundamental for the survival and success of firms and organisations belonging to maritime logistics ecosystems. The constant dialogue and coordination of strategic and operational activities between the heterogeneous actors constitute the preconditions to build wider and more resilient networks as well as to generate benefits for all parties and stakeholders involved. In this context, stakeholder management theoretical constructs can provide maritime logistics firms and organisations with useful managerial practices and best practices for identifying and exploiting unprecedented opportunities to handle relationships and interactions with both business parties and different categories of stakeholders. The variety of actors belonging to maritime logistics ecosystems as well as the array of related stakeholders, that unveils heterogeneous needs and interests, urge further empirical research to disentangle multiple practices of stakeholder management that have not all been investigated yet. In this vein, collaborative and responsible behaviours from maritime logistics firms and other involved organizations may support key actors with facing the new environmental, social, and technological challenges shaping the industry. In this perspective, this PhD thesis examines the main theoretical constructs of stakeholder management by performing an extensive literature review to comprehend the foundations and managerial benefits of stakeholder relationship management and corporate social responsibility. Then, it provides four empirical research to disentangle both strategies and behaviours of different maritime logistics actors, stressing the business benefits and managerial opportunities emerging from the adoption of well-defined and planned stakeholder management practices. Each empirical research addresses multiple challenges (i.e., environmental, social, and technological challenges) and assumes the perspective of one of the key actors of the maritime logistics ecosystem (i.e., once port managing bodies, once shipping companies, and twice terminal operators). The thesis investigates specific dimensions related to the strategic objectives, behaviours, and managerial options of these actors for effectively managing the relationships with their salient stakeholders. The outcomes of empirical research provide four valuable exploratory and qualitative studies grounding on stakeholder management literature. Managerial implications for private, public and hybrid actors of maritime logistics are extensively debated to pave the way for future studies on stakeholder management within this business ecosystem. In this perspective, this PhD thesis would take a step forward in the research on new managerial practices to effectively manage stakeholder relationships in the maritime logistics ecosystem