Integrating Distributed Computational Models as Dynamic Expressions of Knowledge: The Case for Evaluating Measures for Urban Ecosystem Sustainability

Steven Kraines

2011

Abstract

In order to conduct simulation studies of highly complex problems, such as inte-grated environmental assessment of technologies, policies and other measures for making urban ecosystems more sustainable, integration of knowledge in a dynamic form from a wide range of knowledge domains is essential. We have proposed that computational models are appropriate representations of expert knowledge for such integration. Building on previously introduced concepts and software prototypes, we have been designing a dynamic computational modeling platform for studying the integrated effects of supply side and demand side technologies and policies to reduce environmental impacts and consumption of resources caused by activities in urban ecosystems such as Tokyo, Japan. This platform has been used to evaluate scenarios that include the introduction of roof-top photovoltaics, a solid oxide fuel cell combined with a gas turbine topping cycle (SOFC/GT), energy conservation measures in the residential and commercial building sectors, and waste processing and recycling systems. Here we describe the software engineering issues associated with the construction of this model integration platform and provide examples of the techniques we have developed to address those issues.

References

  1. Takeuchi, K., Komiyama, H.: Sustainability Science: Building a New Discipline. Sustainability Science 1(1) (2006) 1-6
  2. Kraines, S. B, Batres, R., Koyama, M., Wallace, D. R., Komiyama, H.: Internet-based Collaboration for Integrated Environmental Assessment in Industrial Ecology - Part 1. Journal of Industrial Ecology 9 (2005) 31-50
  3. Ausubel, J. H.: The Virtual Ecology of Industry. Journal of Industrial Ecology 1 (1) (1997) 10-12
  4. Rejeski, D.: Learning Before Doing: Simulation and Modeling in Industrial Ecology. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2 (4) (1998) 29-44
  5. Borland, N., Wallace, D. R.: 1999. Environmentally Conscious Product Design: A Collaborative Internet-based Modeling Approach. Journal of Industrial Ecology 3 (2 & 3):33-46
  6. Kraines, S. B., Wallace, D. R.: Sustainability Technology Evaluation in a Regional Context using Distributed Information Technology. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 27 (2) (2003) 143-161
  7. Villa, F., R. Costanza, R.: Design of Multi-Paradigm Integrating Modeling Tools for Ecological Research. Environmental modeling and Software 15 (2000) 169-177
  8. Wallace, D. R., Abrahamson, S., Senin, N., Sferro, P.: Integrated Design in a Service Marketplace. Computer-aided Design 32 (2) (2000) 97-107
  9. Kraines, S. B., Wallace, D. R., Iwafune, Y., Yoshida, Y., Aramaki, T., Kato, K., Hanaki, K., Ishitani, H., Matsuo, T., Takahashi, H., Yamada, K., Yamaji, K., Yanagisawa, Y., Komiyama, H.: An Integrated Computational Infrastructure for a Virtual Tokyo: Concepts and Examples. Journal of Industrial Ecology 5 (1) (2001) 35-54
  10. Kraines, S. B., Ishida, T., Wallace, D. R.: Integrated Environmental Assessment of SupplySide and Demand-Side Measures for Carbon Dioxide Mitigation in Tokyo, Japan. Journal of Industrial Ecology 14 (5) (2010) 808-825
  11. Koyama, M., Kraines, S. B., Tanaka, K., Wallace, D. R., Yamada, K., Komiyama, H.: Integrated Model Framework for the Evaluation of an SOFC/GT System as a Centralized Power Source. International Journal of Energy Research, 28 (1) (2004) 13-30
  12. Kraines, S. B., Shigeoka, H., Wallace, D. R., Komiyama, H.: Development of an Internetbased Collaboration Platform and Application to Household Waste Plastic Processing. Intl Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 3(2) (2004) 129-146
  13. Kraines, S. B., Koyama, M., Weber, C., Ikaga, T., Chikamoto, T., Wallace, D. R., Komiyama, H.: A Collaborative Platform for Sustainable Building Design Based on Model Integration over the Internet. Intl Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation. 5(2-3) (2005) 135-161
  14. Xia, H., Koyama, M., Leyland, G., Kraines, S. B.: A Modularized Framework for Solving an Economic-Environmental Power Generation Mix Problem. International Journal of Energy Research, 28 (2004) 769-784
  15. Ikaga, T., Miura, S., Tonooka, Y., Shimoda, Y., Koike, K., Fukasawa, O., Mizuishi, T.: Development of Macro Simulation Method on Household Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission by each Administrative Division. AIJ Journal Technol. Des. 22 (2005) 263-268
  16. Kraines, S. B.: Using Ontology-Based Semantic Matching for Sharing and Integrating Expert Knowledge to Evaluate Scenarios for Low Carbon Societies. In preparation
  17. Kraines, S. B., Guo, W.: A system for Ontology-Based Sharing of Expert Knowledge in Sustainability Science. Data Science Journal, 9 (2011) 107-123
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Kraines S. (2011). Integrating Distributed Computational Models as Dynamic Expressions of Knowledge: The Case for Evaluating Measures for Urban Ecosystem Sustainability . In Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Software Knowledge - Volume 1: SKY, (IC3K 2011) ISBN 978-989-8425-82-9, pages 57-66. DOI: 10.5220/0003700100570066


in Bibtex Style

@conference{sky11,
author={Steven Kraines},
title={Integrating Distributed Computational Models as Dynamic Expressions of Knowledge: The Case for Evaluating Measures for Urban Ecosystem Sustainability},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Software Knowledge - Volume 1: SKY, (IC3K 2011)},
year={2011},
pages={57-66},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0003700100570066},
isbn={978-989-8425-82-9},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Software Knowledge - Volume 1: SKY, (IC3K 2011)
TI - Integrating Distributed Computational Models as Dynamic Expressions of Knowledge: The Case for Evaluating Measures for Urban Ecosystem Sustainability
SN - 978-989-8425-82-9
AU - Kraines S.
PY - 2011
SP - 57
EP - 66
DO - 10.5220/0003700100570066