Kayo Iizuka

An Effective Disaster Evacuation Assist System Utilized by an Ad-Hoc Network

This paper proposes a system that supports effective evacuation from danger using an original Distributed Constraint Optimization Problem (DCOP) algorithm DiSTaS-Anne (Distributed Tabu Search with simulated Annealing). The use of DCOP facilitates the assisted optimization of people’s evacuation timing, by estimating the location of evacuees. This system enables assistance in terms of evacuation guidance to be given to relieve congestion, by calculating evacuation routes via an ad-hoc network of evacuees’ mobile devices (phones, PCs, etc.), intercommunication function and location information.

A real-time disaster situation mapping system for university campuses

This paper proposes a real-time disaster situation mapping system for campuses. University campuses have various features and issues (e.g., difficult to determine the number of people on campus at any one time as there are many students studying at the library or in their rooms, visitors can also use the open spaces, building layouts are often very complicated etc.), and therefore unique disaster prevention efforts are required. In order to address these prevention issues, a system that facilitates disaster situation information transmission by users will be effective. PlaceEngine is implemented for this system to allow users to estimate the current location easily by utilizing Wi-Fi devices.

Food menu selection support system: considering constraint conditions for safe dietary life

This paper proposes a food menu selection support system to realize a safe dietary life considering constraint conditions. Nowadays, people have greater choice in food menu selection due to diversification of diet such as food choices available by dining out in restaurants and ready-made foods. Some people, such as food allergy and dialysis patients, however, are excluded from these benefits by dietary constraints...Food menu planning is difficult for people found to be allergic to certain foods, people on dialysis, or people who are recuperating at home after leaving hospital. To address these issues, we propose a food menu selection support system that considers the constraint conditions of individuals for a safe dietary life. The system supports various individual situations such as home, hospital, school, kindergarten and elder care residence.

Exceeding the efficiency of distributed approximate algorithms enabling by the multiplexing method

Distributed constraint optimization problems have attracted attention as a method for resolving distribution problems in multiagent environments. In this paper, the authors propose a multiplex method aiming to improve the efficiency of a distributed nondeterministic approximate algorithm for distributed constraint optimization problems. Since much of the calculation time is used to transmit messages, improving efficiency using a multiplex calculation of distributed approximate algorithms might be feasible on the presupposition that the calculation time of each node or a small change in message length has no direct impact. The authors conducted a theoretical analysis of efforts to improve efficiency using a multiplex calculation of distributed approximate algorithms using extreme value theory and verifying with an experiment of a simple algorithm. A significant reduction in calculation time and improvement in the quality of the solution was ascertained, as a result of the experiment.

Disaster Evacuation Assistance System Based on Multi-agent Cooperation

This paper proposes a system that supports people being evacuated effectively from dangerous situations by using multi-agent cooperation. The main feature of this system is that it does not require central servers. The system uses the mobile devices of evacuees (e.g. Phones, mobile PCs, tablets) and performs distributed calculations while assessing the locations of evacuees. By using this system, the evacuees are able to know the appropriate evacuation timing. This paper focuses on the formalization of the disaster evacuation problem and how to solve it using the framework of the Distributed Constraint Optimization Problem (DCOP). In order to evaluate this system, an experiment was carried out using multi-agent simulation. The result of the experiment showed that, for the case where the evacuees can receive evacuation guidance from this system, the evacuation completion time for all evacuees (in the case) was about 10% - 30% less than in the case where this system is not used.

Considering Cultural Issues of ERP System Utilization: A Company-Based Perspective

Some data show that the effect of investment in Enterprise Information System (EIS) is not high enough in Japan compared with the levels in the United States and other Western countries. Moreover, Japan is facing major changes in the business and IT environments. With global business expansion, improving operational efficiency at the global level using information technology (IT) has become one of the most important issues for companies. The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packaged system, or ERP system is one of the options used for re-engineering global information systems in many countries. In this paper, the authors present results concerning the effect of implementation of ERP system. The analyses focused on the context of the global expansion of companies and the effects of customization of packaged software functions. Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) issues when implementing ERP systems are also discussed in this paper, regarding cultural issues specific to Japanese companies.

Issues about Inter-organizational Process Flow Adjustment in Business Process Modeling

Expectations of top management regarding information technology (IT) are said to be increasing. However, research results have shown that the dissatisfaction level of top management is high. 52.3% of top management personnel said “rather dissatisfied” and 5.7% answered “definitely dissatisfied” to a question (4-point scale) about the satisfaction with the information system of their companies [1] in Japan. This means about 60% of top management are unhappy with the information systems of their companies. From the survey results analyzed by the authors regarding process defining decisions, it is possible to assume that attempts to adjust and align an appropriate decision with understanding of its difficulty impact on the effect (satisfaction) of the information systems [2]. In this paper, the authors discuss business process modeling methods from the viewpoint of adjusting the needs and requirements of several perspectives (e.g. the satisfaction of top management and end users, efficiency of business process, and maintenance and control), regarding the issues of business process modeling for Japanese companies.

E-Business Process Modeling Issues: From the Viewpoint of Inter-organizational Process Efficiency and Information Sharing

Abstract E-business process modeling is an important factor in developing schemes of e-business. In order to develop schemes of e- business in or among firms, they have to reform their business process and information systems, considering changes that enable the companies to achieve new value. In this paper, the authors overview related works on developing e-business schemes, consider issues concerning e-business process modeling issues especially for Japanese companies bearing in mind their management style, and propose the idea of a modeling tool for supporting inter-organizational process flow adjustment.

Food Product Information Supplement System - Corresponding to Consumer Needs for Shopping and Eating Out

In this paper, the authors propose an effective information system that can supply food product information to meet consumer needs. Consumer awareness of food safety has recently intensified, and food allergy issues seem to be of increasing concern these days, hence the need for effective solutions are required. Improving the quality of food might be an important solution, but supplementation with key information for consumers might also be considered important. To help resolve this issue, the authors developed a prototype system to meet consumer needs based on the survey conducted. Place Engine is implemented for this system, allowing users to estimate their current location by utilizing Wi-Fi devices, and obtain information as to where they can obtain food that meets their requirements nearby.

Saving Energy by Reducing the Number of Elevators in Service: Analysis of Effectiveness Using Multi-agent Simulation

Sustainable development is an important consideration of modern society and the realization of energy conservation has attracted much attention. Recent years have seen a reduction in the number of elevator units in operation. In this study we measured the power-saving effect of reducing the number of elevators in service using multi-agent simulation. The results revealed that the conditions in which energy can be saved by reducing the number of elevators are limited. Moreover, in conditions with little traffic, energy consumption decreased when the number of elevators was increased. This paper reports the experimental result.