Evaluating social choice techniques into intelligent environments by agent based social simulation

The primary hypothesis stated by this paper is that the use of social choice theory in Ambient Intelligence systems can improve significantly users satisfaction when accessing shared resources. A research methodology based on agent based social simulations is employed to support this hypothesis and to evaluate these benefits. The result is a six-fold contribution summarized as follows. Firstly, several considerable differences between this application case and the most prominent social choice application, political elections, have been found and described. Secondly, given these differences, a number of metrics to evaluate different voting systems in this scope have been proposed and formalized. Thirdly, given the presented application and the metrics proposed, the performance of a number of well known electoral systems is compared. Fourthly, as a result of the performance study, a novel voting algorithm capable of obtaining the best balance between the metrics reviewed is introduced. Fifthly, to improve the social welfare in the experiments, the voting methods are combined with cluster analysis techniques. Finally, the article is complemented by a free and open-source tool, VoteSim, which ensures not only the reproducibility of the experimental results presented, but also allows the interested reader to adapt the case study presented to different environments.

Ushahidi

Resumen Ushahidi es el programa africano de mayor difusi��n mundial, que permite mapear informaci��n vital, desde el punto de vista social, en zonas de cat��strofe o de conflicto. Originalmente concebida para reunir las m��ltiples denuncias de fraude en relaci��n a las elecciones kenianas, ha sido utilizada posteriormente en todo el mundo en centenares de situaciones diversas, generalmente relacionadas con situaciones de amenazas, crisis, ayuda humanitaria, etc. Este art��culo presenta el fen��meno Ushahidi y sus aplicaciones, a fin de entender su alcance y sus posibles repercusiones. Tambi��n se introducen temas de gran inter��s para el desarrollo humano como el Crowdsourcing, la GeoWeb, la Neogeograf��a y la Informaci��n Geogr��fica Voluntaria, dada su estrecha relaci��n con el objeto del trabajo. Abstract Ushahidi is the African program of global outreach greater, which allows to map vital information from the social point of view, in areas of disaster or conflict. Originally designed to meet the multiple allegations of fraud in relation to the Kenyan elections, has since been used worldwide in hundreds of different situations, usually related to situations of threat, crisis, humanitarian aid, etc. This paper presents the Ushahidi phenomenon and its applications, in order to understand its scope and possible implications. Topics of great interest to human development, as Crowdsourcing, the GeoWeb, the Neogeography and Volunteered Geographic Information, given its close relationship with the object of labor are also introduced.

Presencia en Twitter de los candidatos a las elecciones madrile��as de 2015

Durante los ��ltimos a��os ha aumentado la presencia de personas pertenecientes al mundo de la pol��tica en la red debido a la proliferaci��n de las redes sociales, siendo Twitter la que mayor repercusi��n medi��tica tiene en este ��mbito. El estudio del comportamiento de los pol��ticos en Twitter y de la acogida que tienen entre los ciudadanos proporciona informaci��n muy valiosa a la hora de analizar las campa��as electorales. De esta forma, se puede estudiar la repercusi��n real que tienen sus mensajes en los resultados electorales, as�� como distinguir aquellos comportamientos que tienen una mayor aceptaci��n por parte de la la ciudadan��. Gracias a los avances desarrollados en el campo de la miner��a de textos, se poseen las herramientas necesarias para analizar un gran volumen de textos y extraer de ellos informaci��n de utilidad. Este proyecto tiene como finalidad recopilar una muestra significativa de mensajes de Twitter pertenecientes a los candidatos de los principales partidos pol��ticos que se presentan a las elecciones auton��micas de Madrid en 2015. Estos mensajes, junto con las respuestas de otros usuarios, se han analizado usando algoritmos de aprendizaje autom��tico y aplicando las t��cnicas de miner��a de textos m��s oportunas. Los resultados obtenidos para cada pol��tico se han examinado en profundidad y se han presentado mediante tablas y gr��ficas para facilitar su comprensi��n.---ABSTRACT---During the past few years the presence on the Internet of people related with politics has increased, due to the proliferation of social networks. Among all existing social networks, Twitter is the one which has the greatest media impact in this field. Therefore, an analysis of the behaviour of politicians in this social network, along with the response from the citizens, gives us very valuable information when analysing electoral campaigns. This way it is possible to know their messages impact in the election results. Moreover, it can be inferred which behaviours have better acceptance among the citizenship. Thanks to the advances achieved in the text mining field, its tools can be used to analyse a great amount of texts and extract from them useful information. The present project aims to collect a significant sample of Twitter messages from the candidates of the principal political parties for the 2015 autonomic elections in Madrid. These messages, as well as the answers received by the other users, have been analysed using machine learning algorithms and applying the most suitable data mining techniques. The results obtained for each politician have been examined in depth and have been presented using tables and graphs to make its understanding easier.

Proceso metodol��gico para optimizar la toma de decisiones en el proyecto de envolventes arquitect��nicas multicapa = Methodological process for the optimization of the decision making in multilayer building envelope projects

La presente tesis doctoral se enmarca dentro del concepto de la sistematizaci��n del conocimiento en arquitectura, m��s concretamente en el campo de las construcciones arquitect��nicas y la toma de decisiones en la fase de proyecto de envolventes arquitect��nicas multicapa. Por tanto, el objetivo principal es el establecimiento de las bases para una toma de decisiones informadas durante el proyecto de una envolvente multicapa con el fin de colaborar en su optimizaci��n. Del mismo modo que la historia de la arquitectura est�� relacionada con la historia de la innovaci��n en construcci��n, la construcci��n est�� sujeta a cambios como respuesta a los fracasos anteriores. En base a esto, se identifica la toma de decisiones en la fase de proyecto como el estadio inicial para establecer un punto estrat��gico de reflexi��n y de control sobre los procesos constructivos. La presente investigaci��n, conceptualmente, define los par��metros intervinientes en el proyecto de envolventes arquitect��nicas multicapa a partir de una clasificaci��n y sistematizaci��n de todos los componentes (elementos, unidades y sistemas constructivos) utilizados en las fachadas multicapa. Dicha sistematizaci��n se materializa en una hoja matriz de datos en la que, dentro de una organizaci��n a modo de ��rbol, se puede acceder a la consulta de cada componente y de su caracterizaci��n. Dicha matriz permite la incorporaci��n futura de cualquier componente o sistema nuevo que aparezca en el mercado, relacion��ndolo con aquellos con los que comparta ubicaci��n, tipo de material, etc. Con base en esa matriz de datos, se dise��a la sistematizaci��n de la toma de decisiones en la fase de proyecto de una envolvente arquitect��nica, en concreto, en el caso de una fachada. Operativamente, el resultado se presenta como una herramienta que permite al arquitecto o proyectista reflexionar y seleccionar el sistema constructivo m��s adecuado, al enfrentarse con las distintas decisiones o elecciones posibles. La herramienta se basa en las elecciones iniciales tomadas por el proyectista y se estructura, a continuaci��n y sucesivamente, en distintas aproximaciones, criterios, subcriterios y posibilidades que responden a los distintos avances en la definici��n del sistema constructivo. Se proponen una serie de fichas operativas de comprobaci��n que informan sobre el estadio de decisi��n y de definici��n de proyecto alcanzados en cada caso. Asimismo, el sistema permite la conexi��n con otros sistemas de revisi��n de proyectos para fomentar la reflexi��n sobre la normalizaci��n de los riesgos asociados tanto al proprio sistema como a su proceso constructivo y comportamiento futuros. La herramienta proporciona un sistema de ayuda para ser utilizado en el proceso de toma de decisiones en la fase de dise��o de una fachada multicapa, minimizando la arbitrariedad y ofreciendo una cualificaci��n previa a la cuantificaci��n que supondr�� la elaboraci��n del detalle constructivo y de su medici��n en las sucesivas fases del proyecto. Al mismo tiempo, la sistematizaci��n de dicha toma de decisiones en la fase del proyecto puede constituirse como un sistema de comprobaci��n en las diferentes fases del proceso de decisi��n proyectual y de definici��n de la envolvente de un edificio. ABSTRACT The central issue of this doctoral Thesis is founded on the framework of the concept of the systematization of knowledge in architecture, in particular, in respect of the field of building construction and the decision making in the design stage of multilayer building envelope projects. Therefore, the main objective is to establish the bases for knowledgeable decision making during a multilayer building envelope design process, in order to collaborate with its optimization. Just as the history of architecture is connected to the history of innovation in construction, construction itself is subject to changes as a response to previous failures. On this basis, the decisions made during the project design phase are identified as the initial state to establish an strategic point for reflection and control, referred to the constructive processes. Conceptually, this research defines the parameters involving the multilayer building envelope projects, on the basis of a classification and systematization for all the components (elements, constructive units and constructive systems) used in multilayer fa��ades. The mentioned systematization is materialized into a data matrix sheet in which, following a tree���like organization, the access to every single component and its characterization is possible. The above data matrix allows the future inclusion of any new component or system that may appear in the construction market. That new component or system can be put into a relationship with another, which it shares location, type of material,��� with. Based on the data matrix, the systematization of the decision making process for a building envelope design stage is designed, more particularly in the case of a fa��ade. Putting this into practice, it is represented as a tool which allows the architect or the designer, to reflect and to select the appropriate building system when facing the different elections or the different options. The tool is based on the initial elections taken by the designer. Then and successively, it is shaped on the form of different operative steps, criteria, sub���criteria and possibilities which respond to a different progress in the definition of the building construction system. In order to inform about the stage of the decision and the definition reached by the project in every particular case, a range of operative sheets are proposed. Additionally, the system allows the connection with other reviewing methods for building projects. The aim of this last possibility is to encourage the reflection on standardization of the associated risks to the building system itself and its future performance. The tool provides a helping system to be used during the decision making process for a multilayer fa��ade design. It minimizes the arbitrariness and offers a qualification previous to the quantification that will be done with the development of the construction details and their bill of quantities, that in subsequent project stages will be executed. At the same time, the systematization of the mentioned decision making during the design phase, can be found as a checking system in the different stages of the decision making design process and in the different stages of the building envelope definition.