Affordances in AI

Affordances in AI refer to a design methodology for creating artificial intelligence systems that are designed to perceive their environment in terms of its affordances (Sahin et al. 2007). Affordances in AI are adapted from affordances introduced in The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception by James J. Gibson (1979). Design methodologies in the applied sciences use affordances to represent potential actions that exist as a relationship between an agent and its environment. This approach to artificial intelligence is designed for autonomous agents, making it suitable for robotics and simulation

Modelling a Dynamic Forest FuelMarket Focusing on Wood Chips: A Spatial Agent-based Approach to Simulate Competition among Heating Plants in the Province of Carinthia, Austria. GI_Forum|GI_Forum 2017, Volume 1 |

Sustainability and renewable resources are attracting increased attention in the energy supply sector. This paper elaborates on the application of agent-based modelling methods to simulate forest fuel markets and supply chains. More precisely, it aims to simulate the market for wood chips for heating purposes, based on a sustainable forest growth and yield model, in conjunction with cognitive agents that act in the market. In the agent-based model, three types of agents are defined: forest owners (supply), biomass heating plant (demand), and ‘traders’, connecting supply and demand. Forest enterprises can decide on forest operations based on the state of the forest fuel market – e.g. considering the price for wood chips. Each biomass heating plant has an associated ‘trader’ that tries to fulfil the demand for forest biomass while minimizing the transport distances and the cost for the wood chips. The paper discusses the results of a simulation scenario in the Province of Carinthia, Austria. The simulation results are analysed with respect to space and time concerning biomass transport distance, transport patterns and remaining biomass stock

Accountability Process Analysis in the TSA Policy Implementation, the Perception on the Public Sector Financial Performance in Nigeria

The study investigates government influence on the public sector with an accountability perspective, unfolding the accountability processes that underpin financial performance. Accountability is a legal and moral demand for honesty by the public sector in compliance with government financial policies and regulations to meet stakeholder expectations. Data collection was through the qualitative method; the instrument was a semi-structured interview, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Ekiti State was selected as the case study; the unit of analysis is the Accountant-General office; other offices for broad data collection are the Ministry of Finance, the Auditor-General office, and the General Administration office of the government, and the respondents were experienced public servants in the state. The study revealed three processes of accountability: government intervention and revision of competencies; designing a channel of discussion on the mandate given to government agencies; and lastly, voluntary public reporting. Furthermore, financial accountability was lacking prior to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) financial policy implemented by the government. The TSA policy enhanced financial accountability and thus had a positive impact on the public sector's financial performance. It is recommended that public institutions of government regularly create a system to maintain accountability for governmental financial performance. Keywords:Accountability, Public Sector, Financial Performance, Treasury Single Account, Policy, and Government DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-17-01 Publication date:September 30th 202

A Conceptual Model of Exploration Wayfinding: An Integrated Theoretical Framework and Computational Methodology

This thesis is an attempt to integrate contending cognitive approaches to modeling wayfinding behavior. The primary goal is to create a plausible model for exploration tasks within indoor environments. This conceptual model can be extended for practical applications in the design, planning, and Social sciences. Using empirical evidence a cognitive schema is designed that accounts for perceptual and behavioral preferences in pedestrian navigation. Using this created schema, as a guiding framework, the use of network analysis and space syntax act as a computational methods to simulate human exploration wayfinding in unfamiliar indoor environments. The conceptual model provided is then implemented in two ways. First of which is by updating an existing agent-based modeling software directly. The second means of deploying the model is using a spatial interaction model that distributed visual attraction and movement permeability across a graph-representation of building floor plans

Usage de la cognition spatiale pour localiser les lieux d'activité lors d'une enquête Origine - Destination

Ce mémoire cerne la problématique de la description qualitative de la localisation d'un lieu décrit en langage naturel. C'est par une approche cognitive qu'est abordé successivement l'apprentissage de l'espace, le stockage de l'information et la restitution de l'information en langage naturel, par l'entremise des concepts de méronymie, de catégories hiérarchiques et de référents spatiaux. De ce cadre théorique, on propose de restructurer une base de données de lieux existants en y ajoutant des paramètres qui permettent de retrouver, d'une description en langage naturel précise ou floue, un lieu sans ambigüité dans une base de données grâce à une interface usager offrant divers modes de repérage spatial

Hierarchical Graphs as Organisational Principle and Spatial Model Applied to Pedestrian Indoor Navigation

In this thesis, hierarchical graphs are investigated from two different angles – as a general modelling principle for (geo)spatial networks and as a practical means to enhance navigation in buildings. The topics addressed are of interest from a multi-disciplinary point of view, ranging from Computer Science in general over Artificial Intelligence and Computational Geometry in particular to other fields such as Geographic Information Science. Some hierarchical graph models have been previously proposed by the research community, e.g. to cope with the massive size of road networks, or as a conceptual model for human wayfinding. However, there has not yet been a comprehensive, systematic approach for modelling spatial networks with hierarchical graphs. One particular problem is the gap between conceptual models and models which can be readily used in practice. Geospatial data is commonly modelled - if at all - only as a flat graph. Therefore, from a practical point of view, it is important to address the automatic construction of a graph hierarchy based on the predominant data models. The work presented deals with this problem: an automated method for construction is introduced and explained. A particular contribution of my thesis is the proposition to use hierarchical graphs as the basis for an extensible, flexible architecture for modelling various (geo)spatial networks. The proposed approach complements classical graph models very well in the sense that their expressiveness is extended: various graphs originating from different sources can be integrated into a comprehensive, multi-level model. This more sophisticated kind of architecture allows for extending navigation services beyond the borders of one single spatial network to a collection of heterogeneous networks, thus establishing a meta-navigation service. Another point of discussion is the impact of the hierarchy and distribution on graph algorithms. They have to be adapted to properly operate on multi-level hierarchies. By investigating indoor navigation problems in particular, the guiding principles are demonstrated for modelling networks at multiple levels of detail. Complex environments like large public buildings are ideally suited to demonstrate the versatile use of hierarchical graphs and thus to highlight the benefits of the hierarchical approach. Starting from a collection of floor plans, I have developed a systematic method for constructing a multi-level graph hierarchy. The nature of indoor environments, especially their inherent diversity, poses an additional challenge: among others, one must deal with complex, irregular, and/or three-dimensional features. The proposed method is also motivated by practical considerations, such as not only finding shortest/fastest paths across rooms and floors, but also by providing descriptions for these paths which are easily understood by people. Beyond this, two novel aspects of using a hierarchy are discussed: one as an informed heuristic exploiting the specific characteristics of indoor environments in order to enhance classical, general-purpose graph search techniques. At the same time, as a convenient by- product of this method, clusters such as sections and wings can be detected. The other reason is to better deal with irregular, complex-shaped regions in a way that instructions can also be provided for these spaces. Previous approaches have not considered this problem. In summary, the main results of this work are: • hierarchical graphs are introduced as a general spatial data infrastructure. In particular, this architecture allows us to integrate different spatial networks originating from different sources. A small but useful set of operations is proposed for integrating these networks. In order to work in a hierarchical model, classical graph algorithms are generalised. This finding also has implications on the possible integration of separate navigation services and systems; • a novel set of core data structures and algorithms have been devised for modelling indoor environments. They cater to the unique characteristics of these environments and can be specifically used to provide enhanced navigation in buildings. Tested on models of several real buildings from our university, some preliminary but promising results were gained from a prototypical implementation and its application on the models

Spatial design and reassurance for unfamiliar users when wayfinding in buildings.

Wayfinding tasks comprise decision points and interconnecting paths leading to a destination. Path choice at decision points is critical to the successful completion of wayfinding tasks. Research has found that signage is not the only influence on path choice and that influences vary depending on familiarity with an environment. People familiar with their surroundings have a cognitive map - a prior understanding of the environment - against which they can compare the environment as they experience it in order to orientate themselves. People unfamiliar with their surroundings, and therefore lacking a cognitive map of them, are found instead to rely upon wayfinding strategies to inform their path choice decisions. This study investigates how aspects of the spatial design of buildings may assist unfamiliar users in finding the destination they are seeking within the building. Observations of people wayfinding in an unfamiliar building suggested that four aspects of spatial design affected route choices made at decision points. Four wayfinding strategies describe the behaviour observed: I) Maintain a Straight Bearing through the building; 2) Avoid a Change of Level; 3) Walk Towards a Brighter Space; 4) Choose the Wider Corridor. Evidence supporting three of these was found in the literature. For the fourth - Choose the Wider Corridor - only limited evidence was available from the literature and hence further work was carried out to test the predictability of its influence on wayfinding behaviour. An online experiment was conducted to investigate to what degree corridor width influences path choice and the interaction between the Choose the Wider Corridor and Maintain a Straight Bearing wayfinding strategies. A means of categorisation, comprising two wayfinding principles, was devised for information in the environment and means of undertaking wayfinding tasks: Reassurance Principle - wayfinding strategies reassuring the wayfinder that they are taking the correct route and Tools Principle - signage, maps, landmarks and other sources of information in and representing the environment, available to aid wayfinding decisions. This thesis looks at strategies for wayfinding reassurance. It is proposed that unfamiliar users would find buildings more intuitive to wayfind within if they were designed with routes to likely public destinations that conform to the four wayfinding strategies. An applied test was conducted to confirm whether wayfinding ease could be predicted by analysing the routes within that building against the behaviours described by the wayfinding strategies. It was found that ratings of difficulty given by test participants matched predicted ratings based upon an analysis of the building'S conformance to the wayfinding strategies. It is suggested that if this analysis was conducted at the design stage it could limit potential wayfinding difficulties. Some possible designs as means of achieving this in new buildings and refurbishments are discussed

The impact of price changes on the brand equity of Toyota in Saudi Arabia

Document 3 describes the research methodology used in this qualitative case study, the rationale/justification for the methodology and reports the findings with an analysis of the findings. The purpose of the study is to investigate and describe the effect of sudden price changes on consumer purchasing behaviour and attitudes toward brand equity. The qualitative case study consists of 6 mini focus group each were comprised of between 3-5 participants who are Saudi national car owners of Toyota and its competitors' car models no older than the year 2010. The focus groups participated in a price simulation exercise followed by interviews. The price simulation exercise exposed the participants to price changes to their preferred vehicle and observed how they responded to those changes. The follow-up interviews were calculated to determine why the participants responded as they did to the price changes in the price simulation exercise. Research findings indicate that most customers will at the very least consider an alternative brand when confronted with a price change. However, the more affluent and loyal customers will not change brands when price changes are insignificant and are reasonable. These results are analyzed by reference to a conceptual framework drawn from the work of Villargeo-Ramos and Sanchez (2005) and Yoo, Donthu, and Lee (2000) who established a link between marketing communications and brand equity including brand awareness, brand association, brand loyalty and perceived brand quality. The results of this study confirm that price changes as a marketing communication strategy is received and interpreted in the context of the different dimensions of brand equity