Given a space and a set of entities we investigated spatial implications from the point of view of generative and transformational dynamics (analysis and classification, creativity, indexing and memorization, wayfinding, etc.): we want aim to at improvinge intelligent analysis and classification architecture orientated to complexity. The use of typology and the concept of architectural type, as an abstraction device for analyzing spatial aspects of design processes and outcomes, is a way for coping with problems of complexity in understanding spatial entities and processes (Petruccioli, 2008) Abstraction via typology can be used in architectural design as a preliminary ontological filter for axiomatic routines of standard ontological analyzers: it calls for a specific extension of the set of axioms. Ontological analysis and classification of complex spatial forms and relations raises problems of meaningfulness and completeness of the set of logical axioms usually used in standard ontological devices (Bhatt, 2011).

The study deals with cooperative space conceptualization by humans according to the AI-based cognitive approach and the urban-planning approach of architects and planners. It carries out the diagnosis and the control of example spaces in known urban environments. The paper is oriented toward suggesting system architectures to let spatial agents add structuring degrees to navigated urban spaces and challenge relevant disorientation conditions. The methodology draws on ontology-based text-mining analysis and statistical interpretation applied to university-class questionnaire surveys, exploring behaviours in human interaction with a space. After an introduction, a case-based discussion of the cooperative conceptualization and representation of space is carried out. The third section shows the ontological results of the case-study, with general results and follow-up discussed in the concluding section.

An increasing debate is growing today, in both academic and research-in-action contexts, about the roles of new and traditional technologies in raising knowledge of agents involved, as well as in boosting an effective development of communities. The last century has been largely dominated by capital-intensive technologies, impacting large and populated areas. From the late 1990s up to the present days, due to social, financial, environmental concerns, new low-impact, local-born, little to medium-scale experiences have been challenging large technologies, with interesting results. The importance of such experiences seems to lay on the abilities and knowledge of local populations, which are quite difficult to emerge as formal methodologies and attain recognizable levels of generalization and sharing. Yet the effectiveness of local-based technologies is being increasingly documented, often succeeding in cases where more formal technologies had previously failed. The EU-funded ANTINOMOS project has largely dealt with local-community knowledge enhancing and managing in the water sector management, aiming at creating a real learning environment for the sharing and the active generation of knowledge through mutual synergies. In this paper, the above subject is discussed and carried out with a cross-disciplinary, cross-scale, multi-agent approach, considering the different forms of local knowledge and language involved.

A growing concern about urban environmental quality has raised over the last decades because of pollution effects on human health and socio-economic systems, particularly caused by urban production mechanisms. Emission reduction policies and new analytical models have been used to face new threats. Now, there is the need to integrate traditional quantitative techniques (statistics, geographic data management etc.) with more complex tools for (single or multiple) urban agents providing the decision makers with a higher-degree support to elaborate effective strategies. This paper shows some outcomes of a research project based on hybrid scenario approach, linking a variety of information and knowledge within different study units through the use of multimodal data for modelling and descriptive purposes (Ringland, 1998; Lindgren and Bandhold, 2003). Each of these scenarios is a virtual space where to test and verify strategic actions; to define sequences of events and focus on random processes and decision outcomes. The work is developed coherently with a general project architecture of an ICT-based Information System to support strategic decisions for the prevention of environmental blight. It gives particular reference to a multi-agent based approach, by analyzing agent-based processes and identifying variables, parameters, indicators usable in relevant system architectures. Reflections are particularly developed around case studies that consider specifically the role, actions and contributions of agents distributed in the domain of social and environmental urbanized contexts. They can be human agents, low-profile artificial (routinary) agents and/or high profile (intelligent) agents, as defined by computer-science and multi-agent studies (Ferber, 1999; Wooldridge, 2002). In dealing with the above subjects, the paper focuses on the case study of Bari, Italy. A particular emphasis is given to the multi-agent-based relationships between urban microclimatic frameworks (heat/cool management, heat islands, air quality, etc..), and the social components of the urban context.

The significances and the roles of creativity and memories in spatial organizations are boosting the increasing attention of scholars and professionals. In cognition-oriented spatial studies, creativity is gradually considered as a normal character of an organization. This thesis is sustained by, e.g., the evidences on the role of memory in the most creative parts of the activity of architects, combined with exceptional association abilities representing the real bulk of creativity. The paper discusses such issues, by analysing the case studies of single-agent and multi-agent spatial organizations under the level of spatial design. The paper explores possible modelling approaches and system architectures supporting cognition-oriented activities in spatial organizations.

Agents, agent-oriented modelling and multi-agent systems (MAS) introduce new and unconventional concepts in computer science. These elements are able to sparkle new modelling perspectives in behavioural knowledge and in environmental domain, where interactions between humans and natural/artificial agents are not standardized. MAS are considered as “societies of agents” interacting to coordinate their behaviour and often cooperate to achieve some collective goal. In order to show involved agents and roles in a quasi-hierarchical scale of interaction behaviours, we propose to set up schemes aimed at simplifying behaviors and interactions between human and non-human agents in indoor spaces for urban microclimate management.

Cities and territories share structural references to a common environmental ontology, in which space perception and representation play a major role. Many human abilities deal with space management, whose ontology can be useful in building intelligent machines in which space conceptualization plays a fundamental role. Space organizing is an important human ability, in which sensorial and mental abilities intriguingly interact. The analysis of human intelligent abilities in this functional perspective helps in shedding light on aspects otherwise erroneously given for granted. Human agents conceptualize, design and organize spaces for human organizations, for example in architectural design, by using numerous routine and non-routine cognitive processes often analysed. Yet automated reasoning/ design agents still provide only bad copies of human performances . Here, creativity is postulated as a non-routine sophisticated human cognitive function, a conscious and intentional process for redefining agents’ situations in the world in new ways. Even if the concept of creativity remains controversial, an increasing number of cognitive scientists considers creativity as a specific part of the ordinary cognitive equipment of the human agent, to be used in certain situations, not confined to a limited set of exceptional human agents .In this context, we assume that it is worthwhile adding spatial domain to the other domains of creativity studied in cognitive science. We also assume that space understanding and space organizing can be fruitfully analyzed and modelled by paying attention to both routine and non-routine (creative) cognitive functions. The domain of civil architecture is a relevant domain of spatial knowledge and action and of course of spatial organization. In it, aesthetics and art, based on creativity mechanisms, play an important role. Studies on architectural creativity based on self-biographies by leading architects (who usually motivate their designs with memories of other designs or spaces, or architectures, experienced by them in the past) prove that spatial memory has primary importance on creativity. The paper carries out an introductory discussion on such issues, by analysing the case studies of single-agent and multi-agent spatial organizations under the level of spatial design. The paper explores possible modelling approaches and system architectures supporting cognition-oriented activities in spatial organizations.

A growing concern on the quality of urban environments has recently developed, due to the effects of pollution on human health and on socio-economic systems and particularly caused by urban production mechanisms. Emission-reducing policies and new analytical models have been increasingly used to cope with such new environmental threats. Therefore, there is the need of integratine traditional quantitative (statistical, data managing, geographical, etc.) techniques .with more complex tools, so as to provide decision makers with greater support to elaborate effective socio-environmental strategies. ECOURB research project, in which this paper is located, just deals with the identification of models to support urban environmental decisions. It is developed coherently with a general decision-support ICT-oriented architecture, through the analysis of multi-agent processes and the identification of variables, parameters, indicators useful in such system architectures. The present paper shows some results of this research project, in the building up of hybrid scenarios for the management of urban microclimates. Particularly, the reference context is represented by the management of indoor spaces in inhabited urban areas. Reflections are carried out on the case-study of public condo housing owned by the Institute of popular housing (IACP) in Bari, starting from a knowledge base collected through questionnaires. Such reflections take into particular account the role, the actions and the contributions of agent distributed in the inhabited context, in mutual, social and external relationships toward the reference physical environment (heat/cold management, urban heat islands, air quality etc.). The multi-agent approach allows the consideration of the complexity of such interactive relationships, so as to use them for the building up of social and environmental management models. Several agent types are taken into consideration, such as routinary human and artificial agents, as well as intelligent agents, so following taxonomical and logical approaches deriving from computer science and multi-agent theory. The modelling approach is characterized in the identification of single agents involved and in the definition of some logic rules of relation and behaviour. However, such model represents a preliminary study outcome, to be developed in the carrying out of the project with the extension and the deepening of the research project.

Il tema principale del libro è rappresentato dallo studio dei processi di modellazione e allestimento di architetture multiagente per sistemi di governance, orientate al supporto di iniziative di decisione pubblica e di pianificazione ambientale. Il concetto di governance risulta oggi vieppiù diffuso nella letteratura relativa alla pianificazione spaziale, e tuttavia limitati risultano gli avanzamenti di ricerca e i casi di studio che ne affrontano questioni di modellazione formale nel dominio ambientale – di notoriamente ben complessa e difficile interpretazione e gestione. Il bisogno di gestire i processi complessi della pianificazione ambientale con riferimento ai patrimoni cognitivi locali spinge le amministrazioni verso il coinvolgimento della conoscenza diffusa dei cittadini. Pertanto, il ruolo della conoscenza diventa centrale nei processi di governance e fondamentale per la costruzione di modelli di supporto decisionale connessi alla gestione di ampi database cognitivi Seguendo un percorso di ricerca avviato con il planning group del Politecnico di Bari sul finire degli anni 1990, l’autore affronta il tema della costruzione e modellazione multiagente e spatial-cognition-based della conoscenza ambientale. Attingendo al vasto campo di sperimentazione svolto negli anni, il lavoro suggerisce possibilità di modellazione dei processi di community governance in campo ambientale, con attenzione strutturale ai risvolti operativi in termini di planning e decisionmaking.

The concept of community governance is generally intended as the management of complex processes underlying the inherent complexity of the environment. As a matter of facts, this complex approach provides the diffused, delocalized and multiagent management processes taking place on settled territories with a multiscalar, multisectoral and transdisciplinary vision. The aspects of interest of this study about the governance theme deal with the definition of an ICT-based, multiple-agent systems (MAS) for the representation of knowledge, roles, relationships, tasks and operational levels involved in governance processes. This model is oriented toward the construction of MAS-based system architectures to support development policymaking, managed through process models of community governance . The paper starts with a first general introduction on the research background of the paper, particularly governance and multi-agent systems. A second chapter discusses multi-agent modelling and the practical case-study of Foggia (Italy). Concluding remarks end up the paper.

This paper deals with the environmental awareness in planners’ education, by investigating on the students of Planning, in an Italian school of Building Engineering. The main objective is to evaluate if and how the levels of environmental cognition and sensitivity in students are affected by the knowledge delivered by the course program, depending on the behavioural features of each agent in a traditional technical engineering context. The multiagent, forum-based interaction approach develops as a virtual web forum, supposedly more democratic, reflective and creative than face-to-face interactions. The results provide indications on the impact and the characters of environment-related courses on the environmental knowledge of engineering students, and suggestions to embed sustainability issues in technical curricula in order to reinforce engineers’ background in dealing with environmental complexity.

Urban regeneration strategies would appear to be a potential pathway for responding to shrinkage, if results were evaluated from both a physical as well as socio-economical perspective. In the case of Taranto, three interlinked causes can be identified as contributing towards such shrinkage (de-industrialisation, suburbanisation, environmental pollution). Regeneration strategies therefore need to take into account a range of different and complex needs in order to accomplish their goals. This chapter gives a brief description of the case of Taranto as a de-industrialised city, highlights its main features of shrinkage, and discusses findings regarding policies and strategies for dealing with shrinkage, attempting to understand the effects of regeneration policies and urban planning strategies already in place in terms of responding to shrinkage at various administrative levels. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of the main features of shrinkage in the case of Taranto.

Shrinkage has increasingly become a “standard pathway” of urban and regional development in many European cities and regions. Shrinking is generally seen in the literature as a negative phenomenon: certain strategies may, however, trigger-off positive effects, such as social networking opportunities, affordable housing, and an increased sense of identity and opportunity change. Focusing on the effects of urban development should be seen as a priority, attempting to seize opportunities for the integration of a range of urban policies, making the most of scarce resources. This paper begins with a short introduction, a sort of “reading guide” clarifying in which steps the document’s argument is developed in the following sections; then it presents a theoretical framework with some central questions on strategies for shrinking cities and neighbourhoods, with a short review of the literature. An empirical section follows describing the case of Taranto as a de-industrialized city and the main features of its shrinkage, attempting to understand the effects of regeneration policies and urban planning strategies already put into place to tackle shrinkage at various administrative levels. This is followed by an evaluation of existing theoretical knowledge, comparing key points with the main features of shrinkage in the case of Taranto. This is carried out to contribute to a better understanding of the questions addressed, highlighting various unsolved problems that are then dealt with in the concluding section, as research challenges that remain open-ended.