The complexity and scope of software systems continues to grow. One approach to dealing with this growing complexity is the use of intelligent, multi-agent systems. However, due in part to its relative infancy when compared to other software paradigms, the use of multi-agent systems has yet to be used extensively in industry. One reason is the lack of industrial strength methods and tools to support multi-agent development. This paper presents the organisation-based multi-agent software engineering (O-MaSE) methodology framework, which integrates a set of concrete technologies aimed at facilitating industrial acceptance. Specifically, O-MaSE is a customisable agent-oriented methodology based on consistent, well-defined concepts supported by plug-ins to an industrial strength development environment, agentTool III.

No abstract

No abstract

In this work, we propose a method and its concomitant software for the identification and assessment of building-evacuation routes. First, the building floor map is represented via P-graphs, thereby facilitating the identification of the evacuation routes. Second, each route identified is transformed into a time-expanded, process-network synthesis (PNST) problem, which can be algorithmically solved by the P-graph methodology. In the proposed method, each location and passage in the building is defined by a set of attributes to be taken into account in the evacuation-route planning. Third, the evacuation routes are ranked in terms of the evacuation time computed as the minimum cost of the corresponding PNST problem. Furthermore, the evacuation routes can be ranked according to specific criteria (e.g., bottlenecks, route utilization, etc.).Resumen-Este trabajo propone un método y software para la identificación y análisis de los planes de rutas de evacuación en edificios. Inicialmente, el plano arquitectónico del edificio se representa mediante P-graphs para facilitar la identificación de las rutas de evacuación. Posteriormente, cada una de estas rutas se transforma en un problema de síntesis de redes de procesos de tiempo expandido (PNST); el cual se resuelve algorítmicamente con base en la metodología P-graph. En el método propuesto, cada ubicación y corredor en el edificio se describe por medio de un conjunto de atributos que debe considerarse en el plan de rutas de evacuación. Finalmente, las rutas de evacuación se organizan con base en el tiempo de evacuación que se calcula como el costo mínimo del correspondiente problema PNST. Además, las rutas de evacuación pueden organizarse según diferentes criterios (e.g., cuellos de botella, utilización de rutas, etc.).

Abstract

No abstract

At the outset, the design of an organization-based multiagent system is modeled according to the framework of Organization Model for Adaptive Complex Systems (OMACS). Subsequently, this design model is transformed into a process-network model.Eventually, the resultant process-network model in conjunction with the P-graph-based methodology give rise to: (i) the maximal structure of the process network, comprising all the feasible combinations of structures, i.e., OMACS-based design configurations, capable of yielding the specified products from the specified raw material; (ii) every feasible structure for the process of interest; and (iii) the optimal structure of the network, i.e., the optimal OMACS-based design configuration. Finally, in light of the tenet of a modelingtransformation-evaluation paradigm, an appraisal is made of the feasibility as well as the flexibility and cost of the optimal OMACS-based design configuration obtained.

No abstract