The 33 papers presented in this book were selected from amongst the 97 papers presented during the sixth edition of the International Conference on Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering during 28 sessions. This conference represents the state-of-the-art research in the field. Two keynote papers introduce the subject of the Conference and are followed by the different themes highlighted during the conference.

The Language of Design articulates the theory that there is a language of design. Drawing upon insights from computational language processing, the language of design is modeled computationally through latent semantic analysis (LSA), lexical chain analysis (LCA), and sentiment analysis (SA). The statistical co-occurrence of semantics (LSA), semantic relations (LCA), and semantic modifiers (SA) in design text is used to illustrate how the reality producing effect of language is itself an enactment of design, allowing a new understanding of the connections between creative behaviors. The computation of the language of design makes it possible to make direct measurements of creative behaviors which are distributed across social spaces and mediated through language. The book demonstrates how machine understanding of design texts based on computation over the language of design yields practical applications for design management.

Mass Customization and Footwear: Myth, Salvation or Reality is the only book dedicated to the application of mass customization in a particular industry. By showing examples of how a "mature" manufacturing sector like shoe making can be thoroughly renovated in business and mentality by applying this paradigm; Mass Customization and Footwear: Myth, Salvation or Reality will be bought by practitioners in the footwear sector and postgraduates, researchers and lecturers in the area of mass customization.

Soft computing embraces methodologies for the development of intelligent systems that have been successfully applied to a large number of real-word problems. This collection of keynote papers, presented at the 7th On-line World Conference on Soft Computing in Engineering Design and Manufacturing, provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in fuzzy, neural and evolutionary computing techniques and applications in engineering design and manufacturing.

Features:
- New and highly advanced research results at the forefront of soft computing in engineering design and manufacturing.
- Keynote papers by world-renowned researchers in the field.
- A good overview of current soft computing research around the world.

A collection of methodologies aimed at researchers and professional design and manufacturing engineers who develop and apply intelligent systems in computer engineering.

Hugo de Man Professor Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Senior Research Fellow IMEC The steady evolution of hardware, software and communications technology is rapidly transforming the PC- and dot.com world into the world of Ambient Intelligence (AmI). This next wave of information technology is fundam- tally different in that it makes distributed wired and wireless computing and communication disappear to the background and puts users to the foreground. AmI adapts to people instead of the other way around. It will augment our consciousness, monitor our health and security, guide us through traffic etc. In short, its ultimate goal is to improve the quality of our life by a quiet, reliable and secure interaction with our social and material environment. What makes AmI engineering so fascinating is that its design starts from studying person to world interactions that need to be implemented as an int- ligent and autonomous interplay of virtually all necessary networked electronic intelligence on the globe. This is a new and exciting dimension for most elect- cal and software engineers and may attract more creative talent to engineering than pure technology does. Development of the leading technology for AmI will only succeed if the engineering research community is prepared to join forces in order to make Mark Weiser's dream of 1991 come true. This will not be business as usual by just doubling transistor count or clock speed in a microprocessor or increasing the bandwidth of communication.

Model Predictive Control System Design and Implementation Using MATLAB(r) proposes methods for design and implementation of MPC systems using basis functions that confer the following advantages: - continuous- and discrete-time MPC problems solved in similar design frameworks; - a parsimonious parametric representation of the control trajectory gives rise to computationally efficient algorithms and better on-line performance; and - a more general discrete-time representation of MPC design that becomes identical to the traditional approach for an appropriate choice of parameters.

After the theoretical presentation, coverage is given to three industrial applications. The subject of quadratic programming, often associated with the core optimization algorithms of MPC is also introduced and explained.

The technical contents of this book is mainly based on advances in MPC using state-space models and basis functions. This volume includes numerous analytical examples and problems and MATLAB(r) programs and exercises.

This volume reflects the theme of the INFORMS 2004 Meeting in Denver: Back to OR Roots. Emerging as a quantitative approach to problem-solving in World War II, our founders were physicists, mathematicians, and engineers who quickly found peace-time uses. It is fair to say that Operations Research (OR) was born in the same incubator as computer science, and it has spawned many new disciplines, such as systems engineering, health care management, and transportation science. Although people from many disciplines routinely use OR methods, many scientific researchers, engineers, and others do not understand basic OR tools and how they can help them. Disciplines ranging from finance to bioengineering are the beneficiaries of what we do - we take an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Our strengths are modeling, analysis, and algorithm design. We provide a quanti- tive foundation for a broad spectrum of problems, from economics to medicine, from environmental control to sports, from e-commerce to computational - ometry. We are both producers and consumers because the mainstream of OR is in the interfaces. As part of this effort to recognize and extend OR roots in future probl- solving, we organized a set of tutorials designed for people who heard of the topic and want to decide whether to learn it. The 90 minutes was spent addre- ing the questions: What is this about, in a nutshell? Why is it important? Where can I learn more? In total, we had 14 tutorials, and eight of them are published here.

SystemC Kernel Extensions for Heterogeneous System Modeling is a result of an almost two year endeavour on our part to understand how SystemC can be made useful for system level modeling at higher levels of abstraction. Making it a truly heterogeneous modeling language and platform, for hardware/software co-design as well as complex embedded hardware designs has been our focus in the work reported in this book.

The application of Computational Intelligence in emerging research areas such as Granular Computing, Mechatronics, and Bioinformatics shows its usefulness often emphasized by Prof Lotfi Zadeh, the inventor of fuzzy logic and many others. This book contains recent advances in Computational Intelligence methods for modeling, optimization and prediction and covers a large number of applications. The book presents new Computational Intelligence theory and methods for modeling and prediction. The range of the various applications is captured with 5 chapters in image processing, 2 chapters in audio processing, 3 chapters in commerce and finance, 2 chapters in communication networks and 6 chapters containing other applications.

As future generation information technology (FGIT) becomes specialized and fr- mented, it is easy to lose sight that many topics in FGIT have common threads and, because of this, advances in one discipline may be transmitted to others. Presentation of recent results obtained in different disciplines encourages this interchange for the advancement of FGIT as a whole. Of particular interest are hybrid solutions that c- bine ideas taken from multiple disciplines in order to achieve something more signi- cant than the sum of the individual parts. Through such hybrid philosophy, a new principle can be discovered, which has the propensity to propagate throughout mul- faceted disciplines. FGIT 2009 was the first mega-conference that attempted to follow the above idea of hybridization in FGIT in a form of multiple events related to particular disciplines of IT, conducted by separate scientific committees, but coordinated in order to expose the most important contributions. It included the following international conferences: Advanced Software Engineering and Its Applications (ASEA), Bio-Science and Bio-Technology (BSBT), Control and Automation (CA), Database Theory and Application (DTA), D- aster Recovery and Business Continuity (DRBC; published independently), Future G- eration Communication and Networking (FGCN) that was combined with Advanced Communication and Networking (ACN), Grid and Distributed Computing (GDC), M- timedia, Computer Graphics and Broadcasting (MulGraB), Security Technology (SecTech), Signal Processing, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition (SIP), and- and e-Service, Science and Technology (UNESST).

The concept of CAST as Computer Aided Systems Theory was introduced by F. Pichler in the late 1980s to refer to computer theoretical and practical developments as tools for solving problems in system science. It was thought of as the third component (the other two being CAD and CAM) required to complete the path from computer and systems sciences to practical developments in science and engineering. Franz Pichler, of the University of Linz, organized the first CAST workshop in April 1988, which demonstrated the acceptance of the concepts by the scientific and technical community. Next, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria joined the University of Linz to organize the first international meeting on CAST (Las Palmas, February 1989) under the name EUROCAST'89. This proved to be a very successful gathering of systems theorists, computer scientists and engineers from most European countries, North America and Japan. It was agreed that EUROCAST international conferences would be organized every two years, alternating between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a continental European location. From 2001 the conference has been held exclusively in Las Palmas. Thus, successive EUROCAST meetings took place in Krems (1991), Las Palmas (1993), In- bruck (1995), Las Palmas (1997), Vienna (1999), Las Palmas (2001), Las Palmas (2003) Las Palmas (2005) and Las Palmas (2007), in addition to an extra-European CAST c- ference in Ottawa in 1994.

Create in 3D with Tinkercad! If you can dream it, you can create it--using Tinkercad. This free tool gives everyone the power to create 3D models, regardless of your level of experience. With the help of Tinkercad For Dummies, you'll have the knowledge you need to plan your designs, the know-how to utilize the platform's drag-and-drop tools to create your design, and the information you need to print or export your designs to use them elsewhere. Tinkercad is for everyone! It's simple enough to be used by kids and students, but robust enough that an adult could use it to create a complex product prototype. With more than 4 million designs posted in the Tinkercad community, the platform is also popular with teachers around the world. Why not join in on the fun? Create your Tinkercad account and join the community Use the drag-and-drop tools to build 3D images Export your designs to have them 3D printed Learn the principles of great 3D design Tinkercad is truly fun for all ages, and this hands-on guide makes it faster and easier to start using it right away!

PAAMS, the International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is an evolution of the International Workshop on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. PAAMS is an international yearly tribune to present, to discuss, and to disseminate the latest developments and the most important outcomes related to real-world applications. It provides a unique opportunity to bring multi-disciplinary experts, academics and practitioners together to exchange their experience in the development of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems.

This volume presents the papers that have been accepted for the 2009 edition. These articles capture the most innovative results and this year's trends: Assisted Cognition, E-Commerce, Grid Computing, Human Modelling, Information Systems, Knowledge Management, Agent-Based Simulation, Software Development, Transports, Trust and Security. Each paper has been reviewed by three different reviewers, from an international committee composed of 64 members from 20 different countries. From the 92 submissions received, 35 were selected for full presentation at the conference, and 26 were accepted as posters.

For the past decade or so, Computational Intelligence (CI) has been an - tremely "hot" topic amongst researchers working in the ?elds of biomedicine and bioinformatics. There are many successful applications of CI in such areas ascomputationalgenomics, predictionofgeneexpression, proteinstructure, and protein-protein interactions, modeling of evolution, or neuronal systems mod- ing and analysis. However, there still are many problems in biomedicine and bioinformatics that are in desperate need of advanced and e?cient compu- tional methodologies to deal with tremendous amounts of data so prevalent in those kinds of researchpursuits. Unfortunately, scientists in both these ?elds are very often unaware of the abundance of computational techniques that could be put to use to help them analyze and understand the data underlying their research inquiries. On the other hand, computational intelligence practitioners are often unfamiliar with the particular problems that their algorithms could be successfully applied for. The separation between the two worlds is partially caused by the use of di?erent languages in these two spheres of science, but also by a relatively small number of publications devoted solely to the purpose of facilitating the exchange of new computational algorithms and methodologies on one hand, and the needs of the realms of biomedicine and bioinformatics on the other. Inordertohelp?llthegapbetweenthescientistsonbothsidesofthisspectrum, wehavesolicitedcontributionsfromresearchersactivelyapplyingcomputational intelligencetechniquestoimportantproblemsinbiomedicineandbioinformatics. The purpose of this book is to provide an overview of powerful state-of-the-art methodologiesthatarecurrentlyutilizedforbiomedicine-and/orbioinformati- orientedapplications, sothatresearchersworkinginthose?eldscouldlearnofnew methodstohelpthemtackletheirproblems. Ontheotherhand, wealsohopethat the CI community will ?nd this book useful by discovering a new and intriguing area of applications.

Alf Yarwood provides a practical, structured course of work matched to the latest release of AutoCAD. After introducing first principles and the creation of 2D technical drawings, he goes on to demonstrate the construction of 3D solid drawings, surface model drawings and rendering. All the new features of the 2010 software release are taken into account and the increasing emphasis on 3D solid modelling in the software is reflected in the book. The 2D chapters are also suitable for those learning how to use AutoCAD LT 2010.
Suitable for all new users of AutoCAD, this book is particularly applicable to vocational and introductory level undergraduate courses in engineering and construction. Further Education students in the UK will find this an ideal textbook to cater for the City & Guilds 4353 and 2303 qualifications and the relevant CAD units of BTEC National and BTEC Higher National Engineering and Construction schemes from Edexcel. Many Foundation Degrees also contain CAD modules for which this book can be of use.
Readers will also be able to visit a free companion website at http: //books.elsevier.com/companions/9781856178686, where they will find worked solutions and AutoCAD drawing files of stages and results for the exercises in the book, as well as further exercises and multiple-choice questions with answers.

IMPROVE stands for "Information Technology Support for Collaborative and Distributed Design Processes in Chemical Engineering" and is a large joint project of research institutions at RWTH Aachen University. This volume summarizes the results after 9 years of cooperative research work.

The focus of IMRPOVE is on understanding, formalizing, evaluating, and, consequently, improving design processes in chemical engineering. In particular, IMPROVE focuses on conceptual design and basic engineering, where the fundamental decisions concerning the design or redesign of a chemical plant are undertaken. Design processes are analyzed and evaluated in collaboration with industrial partners.

Engineering Drawing with CAD Applications is ideal for any engineering student, needing a user-friendly step-by-step guide to draughting, sketching and drawing. Fully revised to take into account developments in computer aided drawing, and to keep up with British Standards, this guide remains an ideal introduction to the subject. It provides readers with the basic knowledge and skills of draughting and takes them on to more interesting and advanced engineering drawing techniques and procedures. This latest revision of Ostrowsky's popoular Engineering Drawing represents a comprehensive introductory course in engineering drawing and sketching, and is sutiable for a wide range of college and university engineering students. The author concentrates on the techniques fundamental to effective drawing, key knowledge that is needed wether the drawings are carried out by hand, or via a CAD package. Copious illustrations and a clear, step-by-step approach make this book ideal for distance learning and assignment-based study.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Automated Technology for Verification and Analysis, ATVA 2007, held in Tokyo, Japan, October 22-25, 2007.

The 29 revised full papers presented together with 7 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 88 submissions. The papers address theoretical methods to achieve correct software or hardware systems, including both functional and non functional aspects; as well as applications of theory in engineering methods and particular domains and handling of practical problems occurring in tools.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Cooperative Design, Visualization, and Engineering, CDVE 2007, held in Shanghai, China, September 16-20, 2007.

The papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers cover all current issues in cooperative design, visualization, and engineering, ranging from theoretical and methodological topics to various systems and frameworks to applications in a variety of fields.

Computer-aided design (CAD) technology is essential for modern design and manufacture in the workshop. With software more practical, affordable and accessible than ever, there has never been a better time to learn how to get the most out of CAD. Whether you are new to using CAD or ready to try more advanced software, this practical guide gives a thorough introduction to the technology and how to greatly enhance design and manufacture in the workshop. Topics covered include: techniques for designing and making artefacts in the workshop (not restricted to any specific CAD software package); guidance on software selection and general functionality; an overview of the conventions of technical drawing and, finally, case studies demonstrating the application of different CAD techniques for a range of projects.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third International Conference on Industrial Applications of Holonic and Multi-Agent Systems, HoloMAS 2007, held in Regensburg, Germany, September 3 - 5, 2007.

The 39 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 63 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on theoretical and methodological issues, algorithms and technologies, implementation and validation aspects, applications, and supply chain management.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design, CSCWD 2006, held in Nanjing, China in May 2006.

The 76 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from about 600 submissions during two rounds of reviewing and improvement. They contain expanded versions of the papers presented at the conference and are organized in topical sections on CSCW techniques and methods, collaborative design, collaborative manufacturing and enterprise collaboration, design methods and tools, agents and multi-agent systems, Web services, semantic Web, and grid computing, knowledge management, security and privacy in CSCW systems, workflow management, and e-learning.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness globally. Early detection and treatment can prevent its progression to avoid total blindness. This book discusses and reviews current approaches for detection and examines new approaches for diagnosing glaucoma using CAD system. Computer-Aided Glaucoma Diagnosis System, Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction of the disease and current methodology used to diagnose it today. Chapter 2 presents a review of the medical background of the disease, followed by a theoretical and mathematical background used in fundus image processing. Chapter 3 is a literature review about segmentation and feature extraction. Chapter 4 describes the formulation of the proposed methodology. In Chapter 5, the results of optic disc and optic cup segmentation algorithm are presented, the feature extraction and selection method, experimental results and performance evaluations of the classifier are given. Chapter 6 presents the conclusions and discussion of the future potential for the diagnostic system. This book is intended for biomedical engineers, computer science students, ophthalmologists and radiologists looking to develop a reliable automated computer-aided diagnosis system (CAD) for detecting glaucoma and improve diagnosis of the disease. Key Features Discusses a reliable automated computer-aided diagnosis system (CAD) for detecting glaucoma and presents an algorithm that detects optic disc and optic cup Assists ophthalmologists and researchers to test a new diagnostic method that reduces the effort and time of the doctors and cost to the patients Discusses techniques to reduce human error and minimize the miss detection rate and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment Presents algorithms to detect cup and disc color, shape features and RNFL texture features Dr. Arwa Ahmed Gasm Elseid is an assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. Dr. Alnazier Osman Mohammed Hamza is professor of Medical Imaging, College of Engineering, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.

The Second International Conference on Fuzzy Information and Engineering (ICFIE2007), built on the success of previous conferences, the ICIKE2002 (Dalian China), is a major symposium for scientists, engineers and practitioners in China as well as the world to present their latest results, ideas, developments and applications in all areas of fuzzy information and knowledge engineering. It aims to strengthen relations between industry research laboratories and universities, and to create a primary symposium for world scientists in fuzzy fields such as Fuzzy Information, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, Soft Computing, Fuzzy Engineering, Fuzzy Operation Research and Management, Artificial Intelligence, Rough Sets and Its Application, Application in Fuzzy Mathematics and Systems, etc.

Mastering and effective exploration of the web environment needs new ideas, adaptation of known methods as well as application of sophisticated and robust technical implementations. Among new research directions present in relation to Web applications, a remarkable place is occupied by intelligent methods defining the topic of soft computing. This edited book includes reports from the front of diverse fields of the Web: application of artificial intelligence, design, information retrieval and interpretation, user profiling, security, engineering, etc. The material has been presented at the 5th Atlantic Web Intelligence Conference a " AWICa (TM)2007 held in Fontainbleau (France) and organized by Esigetel, Technical University of Lodz, and Polish Academy of Sciences.