Managing safety of diverse systems requires decision-making under uncertainties and risks. Such systems are typically characterized by spatio-temporal heterogeneities, inter-dependencies, externalities, endogenous risks, discontinuities, irreversibility, practically irreducible uncertainties, and rare events with catastrophic consequences. Traditional scientific approaches rely on data from real observations and experiments; yet no sufficient observations exist for new problems, and experiments are usually impossible. Therefore, science-based support for addressing such new class of problems needs to replace the traditional “deterministic predictions” analysis by new methods and tools for designing decisions that are robust against the involved uncertainties and risks. The new methods treat uncertainties explicitly by using “synthetic” information derived by integration of “hard” elements, including available data, results of possible experiments, and formal representations of scientific facts, with “soft” elements based on diverse representations of scenarios and opinions of public, stakeholders, and experts. The volume presents such effective new methods, and illustrates their applications in different problem areas, including engineering, economy, finance, agriculture, environment, and policy making.

Control Engineering and Information Systems contains the papers presented at the 2014 International Conference on Control Engineering and Information Systems (ICCEIS 2014, Yueyang, Hunan, China, 20-22 June 2014). All major aspects of the theory and applications of control engineering and information systems are addressed, including: – Intelligent systems – Teaching cases – Pattern recognition – Industry application – Machine learning – Systems science and systems engineering – Data mining – Optimization – Business process management – Evolution of public sector ICT – IS economics – IS security and privacy – Personal data markets – Wireless ad hoc and sensor networks – Database and system security – Application of spatial information system – Other related areas Control Engineering and Information Systems provides a valuable source of information for scholars, researchers and academics in control engineering and information systems.

In times of crisis, it is crucial that information is disseminated quickly and accurately to the appropriate channels. In today’s technological world, there is a plethora of misinformation that can negatively sway individuals and provide them with false reports. To ensure information is distributed appropriately, organizations must implement a plan to ensure their communication is effective. Further study on the best practices and challenges of managing crisis and risk communications is required to ensure organizations are prepared. The Research Anthology on Managing Crisis and Risk Communications discusses strategies and tactics to effectively manage communication in times of crisis and considers the difficulties associated with maintaining a clear line of information. The book also provides an overview of the potential future directions for this field to improve communications moving forward. Covering key topics such as misinformation, technology, leadership, and human health, this major reference work is ideal for managers, business owners, organization leaders, industry professionals, government officials, policymakers, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

In recent years, mathematics has experienced amazing growth in the engineering sciences. Mathematics forms the common foundation of all engineering disciplines. This book provides a comprehensive range of mathematics applied in various fields of engineering for different tasks such as civil engineering, structural engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering, among others. It offers chapters that develop the applications of mathematics in engineering sciences, conveys the innovative research ideas, offers real-world utility of mathematics, and has a significance in the life of academics, practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders. Features Focuses on the latest research in the field of engineering applications Includes recent findings from various institutions Identifies the gaps in the knowledge in the field and provides the latest approaches Presents international studies and findings in modeling and simulation Offers various mathematical tools, techniques, strategies, and methods across different engineering fields

Information Technology is applicable in all areas of life. As a result, computer science is essential to imagine the modern world. Recent advances in information technology represents only a small part of today’s computing applications which were the subject of international cooperation between Kazakh, Ukrainian and Polish scientists. A wide range of issues and topics is addressed, from game theory to advanced control issues: - Application of new computational models and their security problems - The integro-differential game approach - Application of information technology for automated translation, from inflected languages to sign language - Mathematical problems of complex systems investigation under uncertainties Recent advances in information technology is of interest to academics and engineers, and to professionals involved in information technology and its applications.

The growth of a global digital economy has enabled rapid communication, instantaneous movement of funds, and availability of vast amounts of information. With this come challenges such as the vulnerability of digitalized sociotechnological systems (STSs) to destructive events (earthquakes, disease events, terrorist attacks). Similar issues arise for disruptions to complex linked natural and social systems (from changing climates, evolving urban environments, etc.). This book explores new approaches to the resilience of sociotechnological and natural-social systems in a digital world of big data, extraordinary computing capacity, and rapidly developing methods of Artificial Intelligence. Most of the book’s papers were presented at the Workshop on Big Data and Systems Analysis held at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, Austria in February, 2020. Their authors are associated with the Task Group “Advanced mathematical tools for data-driven applied systems analysis” created and sponsored by CODATA in November, 2018. The world-wide COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the vulnerability of our healthcare systems, supply chains, and social infrastructure, and confronts our notions of what makes a system resilient. We have found that use of AI tools can lead to problems when unexpected events occur. On the other hand, the vast amounts of data available from sensors, satellite images, social media, etc. can also be used to make modern systems more resilient. Papers in the book explore disruptions of complex networks and algorithms that minimize departure from a previous state after a disruption; introduce a multigrammatical framework for the technological and resource bases of today’s large-scale industrial systems and the transformations resulting from disruptive events; and explain how robotics can enhance pre-emptive measures or post-disaster responses to increase resiliency. Other papers explore current directions in data processing and handling and principles of FAIRness in data; how the availability of large amounts of data can aid in the development of resilient STSs and challenges to overcome in doing so. The book also addresses interactions between humans and built environments, focusing on how AI can inform today’s smart and connected buildings and make them resilient, and how AI tools can increase resilience to misinformation and its dissemination.

Safety Management Systems and their Origins: Insights from the Aviation Industry presents different perspectives on SMS to better decode what it means as a safety approach and what it implicitly conveys beyond safety. The book uses the aviation industry as a basis for analyzing where the SMS stands in terms of safety enhancement. Through a socio-historical analysis of how SMSs emerged and spread across high-risk industries and countries, the book also explains the other stakes underpinning this new approach to safety management. Features: Explores SMS as it is implemented in aviation based on examples from several countries and regions, namely the UK, USA, and Australia. Presents a socio-historical analysis of how SMSs emerged in high-risk industries. Provides insights to explain the existing limitations of SMS. Proposes new avenues to reach beyond the limitations of SMS. Discusses the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of risk analysis. The book is intended for safety professionals and regulators, as well as graduate students and researchers in safety science and engineering.