Nuts and bolts for the social sciences

Face a l'augmentation de la taille et de la complexite des systemes logiciels, il convient de les decrire a un plus haut niveau d'abstraction (\ie au-dela du code) avant de concretement les implementer. Toutefois, l'utilisation de ces descriptions de haut niveau dans les processus de construction et de verification des systemes reste tres rudimentaire, ne permettant pas de veritablement guider et faciliter le developpement logiciel. Cette these propose une nouvelle approche pour rendre plus simple et plus sur le developpement de systemes logiciels. Cette approche repose sur l'utilisation de langages dedies et sur un couplage fort entre une couche de specification et d'architecture et une couche d'implementation. Elle consiste tout d'abord a decrire a un haut niveau d'abstraction differents aspects, a la fois fonctionnels et non fonctionnels, d'un systeme dans la couche de specification et d'architecture. Ces descriptions sont ensuite analysees et utilisees pour personnaliser la couche d'implementation, afin de faciliter la construction et la verification du systeme logiciel. Nous illustrons notre approche dans le domaine de l'informatique ubiquitaire. A la suite d'une analyse complete du domaine, nous avons concu deux langages dedies a l'orchestration d'objets communicants, Pantaxou et Pantagruel.

https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00654268/document

Approche langage au développement logiciel : application au domaine des systèmes d'informatique ubiquitaire

Modeling is one of the most important parts of requirements engineering. Most modeling techniques focus primarily on their pragmatics and pay less attention to their syntax and semantics. Different modeling techniques describe different aspects, for example, Object-Role Modeling (ORM) describes underlying concepts and their relations while System Dynamics (SD) focuses on the dynamic behavior of relevant objects in the underlying application domain. In this paper we provide an inductive definition for a generic modeling technique. Not only do we describe the underlying data structure, we also show how states can be introduced for relevant concepts and how their life cycles can be modeled in terms of System Dynamics. We also show how decomposition can be applied to master complex application domains. As a result we get an integrated modeling technique covering both static and dynamic aspects of application domains. The inductive definition of this integrated modeling technique will facilitate the implementation of supporting tools for practitioners.

/pdf/static-and-dynamic-aspects-of-application-domains-an-3v96sl85xm.pdf

Static and Dynamic Aspects of Application Domains: An Inductively Defined Modeling Technique That Allows Decomposition

This paper presents the application of a Multi-Level Agent Based Model technology through a Natural Model based Design in Context (NMDC) to describe and model a class of environ-mental problems. NMDC allow training domain expert to design a conceptual model for a concrete environmental problem. This model describes the underlying application domain in terms of environmental concepts and neither requires specific technical skills nor involves implementation details. We show how the associated TiC (Tool-in-Context) develop through NMDC can help the domain expert to describe in semi-natural (specific) language the environmental problem. This description is the basis for TiC to generate a simulation tool. On the base of this, we transform the specific language to NetLogo agent based code, thereby facilitating an early prototype application to be used by the domain expert. Finally, we applied this approach to explain and analyze the process of deforestation around the Laf Forest Reserve and discuss the prototype resulting from our approach.

/pdf/from-conceptual-model-to-implementation-model-piloting-a-3nhq7i42wx.pdf

From conceptual model to implementation model Piloting a multi-level case study in Cameroon.

In multi-agent systems, agents cooperate by asking other agent's opinions as part of their own decision making process. The goal of a recommendation system is to provide advice either on request or pro-actively. In this paper, we assume that the value of an advice from another agent is determined by the trust in that other agent. We present a trust-based model of collaboration and decision making in a multi-agent system. We assume however that agents may be dishonest (such an agent is called an intruder), resulting in advices that may be false. The goal of this paper is the detection of intruders, thereby minimising the damage that they can cause. We also present the underlying relational database model and use this to build a prototype. In our tests, we show that the more influential an agent is in the multi-agent system, measured as its CreditRank, the faster that agent will be unmasked would it be an intruder.

E.D. Kameni

Papers

Natural Model-based Design in Context for modeling application domain and generating a simulation tool: application for environmental problems