Application and Integration of Intelligent Systems in e-Cities

Prof. A.KaklauskasResearch Institute of Internet and Intelligent Technologies, Vilnius

Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania,

e-mail: Arturas.Kaklauskas@st.vtu.lt

Technological innovation mainly through changes in the availability of information and communication technology inclusive databases of best practices, neural networks, decision support and expert systems, etc. that have been provided by a variety of new services developed by the e-cities.

Application Decision Support Systems in e-Cities

• Banking.• Intelligent Transport Systems.• E-government.• Public sector.• Hospitals.• Auctions.• Crime analysis.• Tourism.• Transport.• Electricity technology.• Stocks• Loans.

• Stakeholders (suppliers, contrctors, managers, etc.).• Organisation management.• Negotiation.• Airlines applications.• Business.• Wood industry.• Risk management.• E-Learning.• Housing.• Refurbishment, etc.

Application of Expert Systems in e-Cities

• intelligent transport systems, • knowledge management, • e-learning, • banking, • financial services,• management services, • auctioning, • medical advice, • health care,

• legal advice, • financial consultancy, • insurance, • trade, • travel/tourism, • employment, • housing,• construction,• real estate market, etc.

Application of Neural Networks in e-Citiese-Governance

e-Administrating e-Planning

Workspaces

City managementCitizen Advice Travel & MobilityLeisure, Recreation & TourismSafety & SecurityEducationCrisis & Emergency management

Economic & Business PlanningPhysical PlanningEnvironmental quality & LA21Crisis & Emergency planninge-Agora public discussion forumPublic Health Planning

Services

Emergency (police/fire/ambulance)Bidding & TenderingPaymentsTicketing (for events)

Business developmentBusiness forumCity VisualisationForecasting - cause & effect city modellingDevelopment controlParticipation, decision foraVoting

Automation Applications• Energy Simulation, • Load Calculation, • Renewable Energy, • Retrofit Analysis, • Sustainability/Green Buildings, • Atmospheric Pollution,• Energy Economics,• Indoor Air Quality,• Multibuilding Facilities,• Solar/Climate Analysis,• Training,• Utility Evaluation,• Validation Tools,• Ventilation/Airflow,• Water Conservation,• Misc. Applications.

Tool Applications

Athena Model

         life cycle assessment, environment, building materials, buildings

BEES

         environmental performance, green buildings, life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, sustainable development

Building Greenhouse Rating

         operational energy, greenhouse performance, national benchmark

Envest sustainable design, green buildings, life cycle analysis, environmental impact analysis

EQUER life cycle assessment, design, retrofit, residential and commercial buildings, simulation

GaBi 4 environment, life cycle assessment, LCA, ecoprofiles, system analysis, design, research

KCL-ECO life cycle, inventory, assessment, LCA

LISA

         life cycle analysis, sustainability, utilisation, embodied energy

Umberto material and energy flow analysis, process optimization, environmental impact assessment, material flow cost accounting, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC)

Sustainability/Green Buildings

Tool Applications

AIRPAK airflow modeling, contaminant transport, room air distribution, temperature and humidity distribution, thermal comfort, computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

APACHE thermal design, thernal analysis, energy simulation, dynamic simulation, system simulation

BUS++ energy performance, ventilation, air flow, indoor air quality, noise level

COMIS

         multizone airflow, pollution transport

CONTAM

         airflow analysis; building controls; contaminant dispersal; indoor air quality, multizone analysis, smoke control, smoke management, ventilation

DesiCalc desiccant system, air-conditioning, system design, energy analysis, dehumidification, desiccant-based air treatment

ESP-r

         energy simulation, environmental performance, commercial buildings, residential buildings, visualisation, complex buildings and systems

FLOVENT airflow, heat transfer, simulation, HVAC, ventilation

IAQ-Tools indoor air quality, 'sick' buildings, ventilation design, contaminant source control design, tracer gas calculations

IDA Indoor Climate and Energy design, energy performance, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, commercial buildings

Indoor Humidity Tools indoor air humidity, dryness, condensation

LoopDA airflow analysis, indoor air quality, multizone analysis, natural ventilation

indoor air quality, research

Microflo CFD, airflow, air quality, thermal performance

ModEn object-oriented simulation, energy simulation, controls, energy audit, energy-saving, energy performance, dynamic simulation, research, education, heating, air conditioning

myupgrades.com HVAC updates, HVAC equipment selection, energy savings, up-sell

Thermal Comfort thermal comfort calculation, comfort prediction, indoor environment

VentAir 62 ventilation design, ASHRAE Standard 62

Indoor Air Quality

Tool Applications

1D-HAM heat, air, moisture transport, walls

AFT Mercury optimization, pipe optimization, pump selection, duct design, duct sizing, chilled water systems, hot water systems

AkWarm home energy rating systems, home energy, residential modeling, weatherization

APACHE thermal design, thernal analysis, energy simulation, dynamic simulation, system simulation

APACHE-HVAC buildings, HVAC, simulation, energy performance

AUDIT operating cost, bin data, residential, commercial

BEACON energy audit, billing analysis, equipment analysis

BLAST energy performance, design, retrofit, research, residential and commercial buildings

BSim2002 building simulation, energy, daylight, thermal analysis, indoor climate

BuilderGuide design, residential buildings

Building Design Advisor

         design, daylighting, energy performance, prototypes, case studies, commercial buildings

Building Energy Analyzer air-conditioning, heating, on-site power generation, heat recovery, CHP, BCHP.

Building Energy Modelling and Simulation - Self-Learning Modules

         energy simulation, buildings, courseware, self-learning, modeling, simulation

BUS++ energy performance, ventilation, air flow, indoor air quality, noise level

BV2 annual energy use, durational diagram

CELLAR cellar, heat loss, design rules

COMFIE energy performance, design, retrofit, residential buildings, commercial buildings, passive solar

DEROB-LTH energy performance, heating, cooling, thermal comfort, design

DesiCalc desiccant system, air-conditioning, system design, energy analysis, dehumidification, desiccant-based air treatment

Energy Simulation

The Database of the Best Practice

Today information technologies are rapidly expanding throughout all spheres of activities. Large amounts of information is stored and databases are created on the basis of which thousands of high quality experts pass on their experiences and expertise through the Internet. The database of the best practice can be formed by studying the expertise of advanced industrial economies. Simulation can be undertaken to provide insight into creating an effective database of the best practices:• Alternatives of environment (a peaceful, cultural society; safe, pollution free, green environment; surroundings, public transport);• Alternatives of safety/security.• Alternatives of social cohesion (ecologically sound, economically efficient and socially cohesive settlements, caring society, no poverty);• Alternatives of quality of life (more comfort, time, money; happy people, more pleasure, less work, reconstruction of settlement structure, revitalisation of street spaces, confidence), etc.

Stakeholders and the Efficiency of Alternatives

Stakeholders (urban planners, city administrators, elected representatives, architects, public or corporate owners of flats, etc.) decisions can increase or decrease the efficiency of alternatives. The developed intelligent systems should integrate multiple points of view and make possible the collaboration of the different stakeholders that are involved in this process.

Real estate agents perform a number of functions:

• advising sellers on how to make the house more marketable, • assessing current market conditions, • assisting with paperwork, • negotiating the sale price, • steering their clients through the array of tasks that must be done before settlement.

For providing these services to buyers and sellers, real estate agents typically charge a commission on the sale, which by custom averages around 6 percent.

Under the traditional system, the real estate agent offers a package of services: • showing homes, • providing information about home values and neighborhoods, • matching buyers and sellers,• negotiating and signing the contract, • arranging for inspections, • assisting with closings, and so on.

Technology can disaggregate those services:• Internet searches for listings, • databases displaying home values, • smart software for boilerplate contract language, • personalized websites that manage the complicated transaction, and so on—and allow consumers to pay for only those that they want.

 Research directions:

• Search of real estate.• Finding out of alternatives and making of comparative tables.• Providing information about real estate, their values and neighbourhoods.• Matching buyers and sellers.• Negotiating the sale price.• Assistance with real estate selection.• Lender selection • Alternatives multiple criteria analysis (calculation of market value, etc.).• The after-purchase evaluation stage.

Framework 5 and 6 Programmes• Framework 5. Promoting Innovation in Construction Industry SMEs(CONSTRINNONET). Contract IPS 2000-00002. CONSTRINNONET is a construction related innovation project whose objective is to find instruments that best increase the input-output ratio of RTD in the sector. • Framework 6. INTELCITIES (Intelligent Cities). The main objective of INTELCITIES is to create a new and innovative set of interoperable e-government services to meet the needs of both citizens and businesses. This will provide interactive citywide on-line applications and services for users that will make all aspects of what is “going-on” in the city available to all.  • Framework 6. Bringing Retrofit Innovation to Application in Public Buildings (BRITA in PuBs). The BRITA proposal on Eco-buildings aims to increase the market penetration of innovative and effective retrofit solutions to improve energy efficiency and implement renewables, with moderate additional costs.

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM AS DEVELOPED BY THE VILNIUS GEDIMINAS TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY Based on the analysis of existing information, neural networks, expert, decision support and other systems and in order to determine best practice and to prepare recommendations for stakeholders under consideration different Decision Support Systems were developed.

Decision Support Web-Based Systems were developed by VGTU consisting of:• database of best practices, • database management system, • model-base, • model-base management system,• user interface.

Database of best practiceThe presentation of information needed for decision-making in the data base of best practice may be in a conceptual form (i.e. digital/numerical, textual, graphical, diagrams, graphs and drawing, etc), photographic, sound, video and quantitative forms. The presentation of quantitative information involves criteria systems and subsystems, units of measurement, values and initial weights that fully define the provided variants. In this way, the DSS enables the decision-maker to receive various conceptual and quantitative information from a database and a model-base allowing him/her to analyse the above factors and to form an efficient solution.

The presentation of information needed for decision-making in the DSS may be in a photographic form

The presentation of information needed for decision-making in the DSS may be in a textual form

The presentation of quantitative information in the DSS

The following databases of best practice have been developed:

• Innovation,• Construction,• Facilities Management,• Real Estate,• Refurbishment,• Sustainable Development,• Loans,• International Trade,• Ethics.

Innovation database

Construction database

Facilities Management database

The following tables form the FM’s database:

•  Initial data tables. These contain information about the facilities (i.e. building, complexes, alternative facilities management organisations). • Tables assessing facilities management solutions. These contain quantitative and conceptual information about alternative facilities management solutions: space management, administrative management, technical management and management of other services, complex facilities management, market, competitors, suppliers, contractors, renovation of walls, windows, roof, etc.

Real Estate database

Refurbishment database

Sustainable Development database

International trade database

Ethics database

The efficiency of alternatives is often determined by taking into account many factors. These factors include an account of the economic, technical, technological, management, organisation, legal, social and other factors. The model-base of a decision support system should include models that enable a decision-maker to do a comprehensive analysis of the available variants and to make a proper choice. The following models developed by authors of a model-base aim at performing the functions of:•A model for the establishment of the criteria weights,•A model for multiple criteria analysis and for setting the priorities,•A model for the determination of a project’s utility degree,•A model for the determination of a project’s market value.

Model-Base

According to the user’s needs, various models may be provided by a model management system. When a certain model (i.e. search for alternatives) is used the results obtained become the initial data for some other models (i.e. a model for multiple criteria analysis and setting the priorities). The results of the latter, in turn, may be taken as the initial data for some other models (i.e. determination of utility degree of alternatives).

Model-Base

When creating the Web-based decision support systems the author based their work on the following major principles and methods:•    Method of complex analysis. The use of a complex analysis makes it possible to carry out economic, technical, qualitative, technological, environmental, managerial and other kinds of optimisation throughout the life cycle of a project.•     Method of functional analysis. The expenditures associated with project functions are usually determined by taking into account the benefits of a function and the cost of its realization.•     Principle of cost-benefit ratio optimisation. Efforts are made to get maximum benefit (economic, qualitative, environmental and social, legal, etc.) at minimum project’s life cycle expenses, i.e. to optimise the cost-benefit ratio.•    Principle of interrelation of various sciences. The problem of cost-benefit ratio may be successfully solved only when the achievements of various sciences, such as management. economics, law, engineering, technology, ethics, aesthetics and psychology, etc. are used.•      Methods of multi-variant design and multiple criteria analysis. These methods allow us to take into consideration the quantitative and qualitative factors, as well as cutting the price of the project and better satisfying the needs of all interested parties.•     Principle of close interrelation between project’s efficiency and interested parties and their aims.

The following Decision Support Web-Based Systems have been developed in VGTU:

• Innovation,• Construction,• Facilities Management,• Real Estate• Refurbishment,• Sustainable Development,• Loans,• International Trade,• Ethics.

Innovation DSSMultiple criteria analysis of the government alternatives of decreasing the

barriers to innovation

Innovation DSS

Multiple criteria analysis of government policies (alternative experiments) for technological innovation

Construction DSS

Fragment of analysis of construction alternatives

At the present moment the developed Construction DSS allows the performance of the following functions: •  Search of construction products. A consumer may perform a search of alternatives from catalogues of different suppliers and producers. •   Finding out alternatives and making comparative tables. Consumers specify requirements and constraints and the System queries the information of specific construction products from a number of online vendors. The results of the search of a concrete construction product are often provided in one table.•   Evaluation stages of alternatives. While going through the purchasing decision process a customer must examine a large number of alternatives, each of which is surrounded by a considerable amount of information (price, discounts given, thermal insulation, sound insulation, rate of harm to human health of the products, aesthetic, weight, technical specifications, physical and moral longevity). Following on from the gathered information the priority and utility degree of alternatives is then calculated. •   Analysis of interested parties (competitors, suppliers, contractors, etc.),•  The after-purchase evaluation stage. A consumer evaluates the usefulness of the product in the after-purchase evaluation stage, etc.

Facilities Management DSS

Analysis of facilities management (space management) alternatives

Facilities Management DSS

Below is a list of typical facilities management problems that were solved by users: multiple criteria analysis of space management, administrative management, technical management and management of other services alternatives; analysis of complex facilities management alternatives; analysis of interested parties (suppliers, contractors), etc.

Real Estate DSS

Analysis of real estate alternatives

Capabilities to use the Real Estate DSS in alternatives multiple criteria analysis stage are:

•Real estate valuation from various aspects (i.e. determination of market value, value in use, and investment value).

•Multiple criteria analysis of alternatives and selection of most efficient ones.

•Valuation of factors affecting the value of real estate (for example, valuation of real estate location, real estate depreciation).

•The after-purchase evaluation stage. A consumer evaluates the usefulness of the real estate in the after-purchase evaluation stage.

 

Building Refurbishment DSS

Analysis of building refurbishment alternatives

Developed Building Refurbishment DSS include the following models:• a model of developing the alternative variants of building enclosures,• a model for determining the initial significances of the criteria (with the use of expert methods),•  a model for the criteria significance establishment,•  a model for multivariant design of a building refurbishment,•  a model for multiple criteria analysis and setting the priorities,•  a model for determination of project utility degree,•  a model for providing recommendations.

Building Refurbishment DSS

Based on the above models, a system can make until 100,000 building refurbishment alternative versions, performing their multiple criteria analysis, determining utility degree and selecting most beneficial variant without human interference.

Building Refurbishment DSS Analysis of building refurbishment alternatives

International Trade DSS

Analysis of international trade alternatives

International trade DSS after a multiple criteria analysis of the export sectors, the following can be determined:• Priority of the sectors. One can see which the sector is most competitive in the country under consideration both statically and dynamically.• Tendencies, i.e. what the percentage of increase (or decrease) of the position (i.e. comparative advantages) of the export sectors of a country under consideration with similar sectors in other countries, during the period analysed.

International trade DSS after completing a multiple criteria analysis of exported products of a country under consideration, the following will be determined:• Priority of products of a country under consideration. One can easily see the reasons why one or another product is more competitive. The products taking the first places meet world requirements according to their competitiveness and of a country under consideration is well prepared for their export.• Tendencies, i.e. what the percentage of increase (or decrease) of the position of an exact product compared to another during the period analysed.

Ethical DSS

Analysis of ethical alternatives

Capabilities to use the Ethical DSS in ethical multiple criteria analysis stage are:

• Development of the best practice database.• Determination of the philosophy theories according to which the alternatives will be evaluated and the decision made.• Development of comparative tables.• Evaluation of ethical alternatives.

 The created Ethical Web-Based Decision-Support System may also help stakeholders to manage their mutual relationship efficiently, to minimize the conflict-of-interest situations and to solve them.

Integration of Construction Decision Support and Knowledge Systems

Knowledge systems would be more useful if it drove decision support systems. Computational and analytical models could be applied to the information in the knowledge base so as to support decision-making. Some modules could be applied to the knowledge base so as to make recommendations. For example, decision support systems can facilitate the analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of explicit knowledge. This explicit knowledge consists of all documents, accounting records, and data stored in computer memories. Explicit knowledge refers to codified knowledge that is transmittable in formal, systematic language and is easily transferred by using Information Technology.

Conclusions 

The analysis of information, expert, decision support and other systems, neural networks that were developed by researchers from various countries assisted the authors to create of their own Decision Support Web-Based Systems (DSS). DSS differ from others in the use of new multiple criteria analysis methods as were developed by the authors. The databases of a best practices were developed providing a comprehensive assessment of alternative versions from the economic, technical, technological, management, organisational, qualitative, legislative and other perspectives.