Editor: Ang Yang & Yin Shan, University of New South Wales, Australia
Publisher: Idea Group Inc. (www.idea-group.com)

Introduction

The universe is a big system of systems. It has for example, ecological systems, social systems, commodity and stock market, etc. These systems are complex and constantly adapting to their environment. Many of these systems are essential to the very existence of human beings. They cannot be fully understood by isolating their components or applying simple cause and effect reasoning due to the complexity and intensive interactions among these components. These systems can be examined by looking for patterns within their behaviour. The Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) research uses systemic inquiry to build multi-level and multi-disciplinary representations of reality to study these systems. Recently, it has been a focus across a number of disciplines.

The Overall Objective of the Book

The use of the theory of CAS is prevalent in most areas of scientific endeavour. However, most papers on the application of CAS are scattered around in different journals and conference proceedings. As such, journal and conference publications tend to focus on a very special and narrow topic. It is therefore vital to have a book which summarizes the state-of-art in this highly-evolving area.

This special volume will consist of open-solicited and invited papers written by leading researchers in the field. All papers will go through a peer review process by at least three recognised reviewers and one of the editors. The book will cover the foundation as well as the practical side of the topic. This represents a balance between technicality of specialists, and readability of a larger audience.

This work will raise the profile of the contribution that complex adaptive systems can make toward better understanding of the various critical systems around us. In doing so, this work should encourage both further research into this area and also the practical implementation of the results derived from this area.

The Target Audience

Researchers working in the field of complex adaptive systems and related fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, multi-agent systems, data mining, as well as professionals in related applications such as defence, bioinformatics and sociology will find this book an indispensable state-of-art reference. Because of the comprehensive coverage of the book, the book can also be used as a text at the post-graduate level.

Topics

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

•    Theory of Complex Adaptive Systems
•    Complex Adaptive System Tools
    o Network Theory
    o Multi-Agent Systems
    o Learning Methods
    o Simulation Models
    o Evolutionary Game
    o Data Mining and Data Farming
    o Visualization and Virtual Environments
•    Applications
    o Ecosystem
    o Economic systems (market, finance, stock market)
    o Energy (e.g. power grid)
    o Bioinformatics (e.g. genomics)
    o Health (e.g. epidemiology)
    o Sociology (e.g. social networks)
    o Defence and homeland security

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before August 15, 2006, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by September 15, 2006 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter organizational guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by December 15, 2006. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. The book is scheduled to be published by Idea Group Inc., www.idea-group.com, publisher of the Idea Group Publishing, Information Science Publishing, IRM Press, CyberTech Publishing and Idea Group Reference imprints.

Timeline

August 15, 2006:  Chapter proposal due
September 15, 2006: Notifying authors of acceptance/rejection of the proposal
December 15, 2006: Full chapter due
February 15, 2007:  Notifying authors for revision
February 15, 2007: Notifying authors of the review results
April 30, 2007:  Notifying authors of acceptance/rejection of the revised chapter

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded to:

Ang Yang
Artificial Life and Adaptive Robotics Laboratory
School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
University of New South Wales
Australian Defence Force Academy
Northcott Drive, Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA