Discourses on social software

Can computer scientists contribute to the solution of societal problems? Can logic help to model social interactions? Are there recipes for making groups with diverging preferences arrive at reasonable decisions? Why is common knowledge important for social interaction? Does the rational pursuit of individual interests put the public interest in danger, and if so, why? Discourses on Social Software sheds light on these and similar questions. This book offers the reader an ideal introduction to the exciting new field of social software. It shows in detail the many ways in which the seemingly abstract sciences of logic and computer science can be put to use to analyse and solve contemporary social problems. The unusual format of a series of discussions among a logician, a computer scientist, a philosopher and some researchers from other disciplines encourages the reader to develop his own point of view. The only requirements for reading this book are a nodding familiarity with logic, a curious mind, and a taste for spicy debate.Kunnen de computerwetenschappers bijdragen aan een oplossing van sociale problemen? Kan logica gebruikt worden om sociale interactie te modelleren? Zijn er regels op te stellen om groepen met afwijkende voorkeuren tot redelijke besluiten te laten komen? Discourses on Social Software biedt de lezer een ideale inleiding op (nog nieuwe) gebied van sociale software. Het toont in detail de vele manieren waarin de schijnbaar abstracte wetenschappen van logica en computerwetenschap aan het werk kunnen worden gezet om eigentijdse sociale problemen te analyseren en op te lossen. Door de ongebruikelijke aanpak in dit boek, namelijk door discussies tussen een logicus, een computerwetenschapper, een filosoof en onderzoekers uit andere disciplines, wordt de lezer aangemoedigd zijn eigen standpunt te ontwikkelen. De enige vereisten om dit boek te lezen zijn enige vertrouwdheid met de logica, een nieuwsgierige geest, en liefde voor een pittig debat

AGENT-BASED MODEL AND SIMULATIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF PORTS: THE IMPORT PROCESSES AT THE PORT OF GENOVA

This thesis addressed to use of Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) for the development and implementation of the import process of goods in a port that is suitably applied to help, plan, structure the development of the port model. The main goal of the modelling and implementation was to reach to fruition as more organized, fast and efficient complex logistics network, through development policies. To this purpose, I developed an agent-based model (ABM) of a port that is populated by the real main actors (stakeholders) whose are involved in the port activities such as maritime, customs, financial police etc. The model of the port simulates the actual port processes, i.e. acceptance of the goods, sending them, controlling of the legality, or not to import goods, the transportation planning etc. Agent-based models (ABMs) are being used in modelling in economies as complex systems that is a relatively recent approach in economies [62]. It has increasingly been attracting many scholars belonging to several sub-fields, becoming both a complement and a substitute for more traditional economic-modeling methodologies [62]. We can mention that ABMs are considered as a valid and effective competitor of standard Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models in macroeconomics [26]. The main advantages of using ABMs arrive two main additional values if we compare it with its equivalent systems. ABM provides more descriptive richness, as they characterize ecologies of agents, locally interacting through non-obvious network structures, learning using incomplete information, and competing within imperfect markets. Second, the modeler developing an ABM has typically more flexibility in both input and output validation of its model [34]. Ports have an integral role of our economy, they are strategic places of exchange, and especially over the last few decades and with the phenomenon of globalization, the ports are a reality in continuous movement and growth. Therefore, they are operating places of extreme complexity, especially in their logistics functions of transport management. The thesis discusses the business process is implemented for developing a computer supported management tool to handle the port activities flow. The tool is designed for the integration in a virtual infrastructure that allows an advanced operational management of port traffics. By modelling the time documentation according to the specification of the Genoa case, the business case of the port of Genoa is tested. Results show that the mechanism implemented simulates the actual process. Moreover some bottleneck are discovered, such as delays to the handling of the containers and queues formation due to missing documentation or documentation with errors or not ready