In this thesis we study a reasoning module for agents that have cognitive abilities, such as memory, perception, action, and are expected to function autonomously for long periods of time. The module provides the ability to reason about action and change using the language of the situation calculus and variants of the basic action theories. The main focus of this thesis is on the logical problem of progressing an action theory. First, we investigate the conjecture by Lin and Reiter that a practical first-order definition of progression is not appropriate for the general case. We show that Lin and Reiter were indeed correct in their intuitions by providing a proof for the conjecture, thus resolving the open question about the first-order definability of progression and justifying the need for a second-order definition. Then we proceed to identify three cases where it is possible to obtain a first-order progression with the desired properties: i) we extend earlier work by Lin and Reiter and present a case where we restrict our attention to a practical class of queries that may only quantify over situations in a limited way; ii) we revisit the local-effect assumption of Liu and Levesque that requires that the effects of an action are fixed by the arguments of the action and show that in this case a first-order progression is suitable; iii) we investigate a way that the local-effect assumption can be relaxed and show that when the initial knowledge base is a database of possible closures and the effects of the actions are range-restricted then a first-order progression is also suitable under a just-in-time assumption. Finally, we examine a special case of the action theories with range-restricted effects and present an algorithm for computing a finite progression. We prove the correctness and the complexity of the algorithm, and show its application in a simple example that is inspired by video games.

This thesis investigates the relationships between performance, workload, and situation awareness at varying levels of automation. The relationships observed in this study are compared to a description put forth to formalize the conventional interpretation of the trade-off between the benefits of automation during routine operation and the costs under conditions of automation failure. The original work stipulated that this “routine-failure trade-off” is likely a simplification affected by contextual factors. This work therefore aimed to i) provide empirical evidence to support or refute the trade-off and ii) to identify possible extenuating factors. The results generally supported the routine-failure trade-off, and considered in light of the functional structure of the task suggested that the relationships between goals and individual functions specific to a given task seem to affect the overall costs and benefits of automation through the mechanism of selective reliance. Further work is required to validate the findings of this study.

Trip planning is a well cited problem for which various solutions have been reported in the literature. This problem has been typically addressed, to a large extent, as a shortest distance path planning problem. In some scenarios, the concept of shortest path is extended to reflect temporal objectives and/or constraints. This work takes an alternative perspective to the trip planning problem in the sense it being situation aware. Thus, allowing multitudes of traveler centric objectives and constraints, as well as aspects of the environment as they pertain to the trip and the traveler. The work in this thesis introduces TSADA (Traveler Situation Awareness and Decision Aid) system. TSADA is designed as a modular system that combines linguistic situation assessment with user-centric decision-making. The trip planning problem is modeled as a graph G. The objective is to find a route with the minimum cost. Both hard and soft objective/attributes are incorporated. Soft objective/attributes such as safety, speed and driving comfortability are described using a linguistic framework and processed using hierarchical fuzzy inference engine. A user centric situation assessment is used to compute feasible routes and map them into route recommendation scheme: recommended, marginally recommended, and not recommended. In this work, we introduce traveler's doctrines concept. This concept is proposed to make the process of situation assessment user centric by being driven by the doctrine that synthesizes the user's specific demands. Hard attributes/objectives, such as the time window and trip monitory allowances, are included in the process of determining the final decision about the trip. We present the underline mathematical formulation for this system and explain the working of the proposed system to achieve optimal performance. Results are introduced to show how the system performs under a wide range of scenarios. The thesis is concluded with a discussion on findings and recommendations for future work.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išanalizuotos ir įvertintos branduolinio tipo ekstremaliųjų situacijų prevencijos ir parengties priemonės. Pirmoje darbo dalyje teoriniu aspektu tiriama branduolinės saugos bei ekstremaliųjų situacijų valdymo ciklo prevencijos ir parengties fazių samprata. Taip pat išanalizuojamas technologinio pobūdžio rizikos suvokimas, jos valdymo ypatumai bei branduolinių tipo ekstremaliųjų situacijų klasifikavimas pagal tarptautinę branduolinių ir radiologinių įvykių skalę. Antroje dalyje nagrinėjos branduolinio tipo ekstremaliųjų situacijų prevencijos ir parengties priemonės bei trumpai apžvelgiama Lietuvos situacija, įvertinta pagal tas priemones, atskleidžiamos spragos teoriniame lygmenyje. Trečioje dalyje aptariama tyrimo, atliekamo trianguliacijos principu metodika bei analizuojami žvalgybis,kokybinis ir kiekybinis tyrimai. Kokybiniu tyrimu atskleidžiama Černobylio avarijos prevencijos ir parengties priemonių situacija, kiekybiniu – visuomenės nuomonė apie branduolinę saugą Lietuvoje, žvalgybiniu – specialistų nuomonė dėl radiacinės saugos. / Master's thesis analyzed and evaluated nuclear emergency prevention and preparedness measures. The first part is an overview of nuclear safety, prevention and preparedness phases conception of emergency management cycle. It is also examined the nature of technological risk perception and its operating features and the type of nuclear emergency classification according to the INES scale. The second part analyzed the nuclear emergency prevention and preparedness measures and it is given a brief overview of the situation in Lithuania, assessed according to these measures. The third section discussed the research carried out by triangulation method: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research revealed the Chernobyl accident prevention and preparedness measures and identified gaps in emergency management process. Quantitative research analyzed public opinion on nuclear safety in Lithuania. Also experts in radiological sphere have given their opinion about radiological safety measures.

Yorgancioglu, Derya M. Arch, Department of Architecture Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. C&acirc / n&acirc / Bilsel September 2004, 133 pages In this thesis it is aimed to develop a particular reading of Steven Holl&rsquo / s approach to architecture. It is claimed that in Holl&rsquo / s architecture there is a philosophical depth that embraces both his thinking on and making of architecture. This thesis suggests that, the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the French philosopher (1908-1961) is Steven Holl&rsquo / s main reference in achieving a philosophical depth in architecture. The thesis research focuses on understanding Holl&rsquo / s approach to architecture and its relation to Merleau-Ponty&rsquo / s phenomenological philosophy. In the second part of the thesis, in aiming to unfold how the design process develops the study focused on the intellectual framework in Holl&rsquo / s architecture. Specific concepts that Holl dwells upon are examined in relation to their philosophical references. This section also comprises a focus on the architect as the subject of architectural practice. In the third part, the phenomenological framework in the way Holl makes architecture is studied by examining how he relates building with site and situation / body to architectural space / body and architecture to time. This examination concludes with an inquiry in the haptic sensibility of the architect into articulating spaces and forms. Lastly, the forth part involves a study on Holl&rsquo / s particular projects, through which it is aimed to examine the architectural embodiment of his phenomenological approach. The thesis research in Steven Holl&rsquo / s architectural approach, which is held through his thinking on and making of architecture, opens up a field of study about the practice of an architect and the philosophical engagement of architecture.

In this workshop, we present a model of problem that we call Research Situation for the Classroom (RSC). The aim of a RSC is to put students in a role close to a mathematical researcher in order to make them work on mathematical thinking/skills. A RSC has some characteristics : the problem is close to a research one, the statement is an easy understandable question, school knowledge are elementary, there is no end, a solved question postponed to new questions... The most important characteristic of a RSC is that students can manage their research by fixing themselves some variable of the problem. So, a RSC is completely different from a problem that students usually do in France. For short : there is no final answer, students can try to resolve their own questions : a RSC is a large open field where many sub-problems exist; the goal for the students is not to apply a technique: the goal is, as for a researcher, to search. These type of situations are particularly interesting to develop problem solving skills and mathematical thinking. They can also let students discover that mathematics are “alive” and “realistic”. This workshop will be split into two parts. First, we propose to put people in the situation of solving a RSC to make them discover practically what is it. After, we present the model of a RSC and some results of our experimentations.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed February 10, 2009). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-41).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität, Dortmund, 2006.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat, Greifswald, 2002.

The theoretical part of the thesis was divided into five chapters in which the theory of turism and marketing were explored and described. The tourist trade was defined with the help of the specific literature, also destinations, particular types of turism and, of yourse, cultural tourism. The practical part of the thesis deals with the area of Jindřichův Hradec. The synthesis of information gained from the situational analysis and questionnaire research served as a base for creating the SWOT analysis of tourism in the JH area. There is nothing like a ?service package? for cooperation and communication of cultural and tourism facilities in the area. Therefore the author suggested such a product package which should be used as a means for tourists to visit all technical museums in the area and which should be also helpful for the people to stay longer in the destination.