Applications of multi-agent systems from the perspective of construction management: A literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liqun Xiang ◽  
Yongtao Tan ◽  
Geoffrey Shen ◽  
Xin Jin
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Construction Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Agent Based Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Complex Problems ◽  
Multi Agent

PurposeThe applications of multi-agent systems (MASs) are considered to be among the most promising paradigms for detailed investigations and reliable problem-solving methods, and MAS applications make it possible for researchers and practitioners to better understand complex systems. Although a number of prior studies have been conducted to address complex issues that arise from construction projects, few studies have summarised the applications and discussed the capacity of MASs from the perspective of construction management. To fill the gap, this paper provides a comprehensive literature review of MAS applications from the perspective of construction management.Design/methodology/approachWeb of Science and Scopus are the most commonly used international databases in conducting the literature reviews. A total of 86 relevant papers published in SCI-Expanded, SSCI and Ei Compendex journals related to the application of MASs from the perspective of construction management are selected to be analysed and discussed in this paper.FindingsBased on the 86 collected publications, the utilisations of MASs to support the management of the supply chain and the improvement of project performance are identified from the perspective of construction management, the characteristics and barriers of current MAS applications are analysed, a framework for developing agent-based models to address complex problems is proposed, and future research directions of MAS applications are discussed.Originality/valueThis review can serve as a useful reference for scholars to enhance their understanding of the current research and guide future research on MASs. The proposed framework can help build agent-based models to address complex problems in construction management.

scholarly journals A multi-agent based system with big data processing for enhanced supply chain agility

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihalis Giannakis ◽  
Michalis Louis
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Semantic Web ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
Multi Agent

Purpose Decision support systems are becoming an indispensable tool for managing complex supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to develop a multi-agent-based supply chain management system that incorporates big data analytics that can exert autonomous corrective control actions. The effects of the system on supply chain agility are explored. Design/methodology/approach For the development of the architecture of the system, a sequential approach is adopted. First three fundamental dimensions of supply chain agility are identified – responsiveness, flexibility and speed. Then the organisational design of the system is developed. The roles for each of the agents within the framework are defined and the interactions among these agents are modelled. Findings Applications of the model are discussed, to show how the proposed model can potentially provide enhanced levels in each of the dimensions of supply chain agility. Research limitations/implications The study shows how the multi-agent systems can assist to overcome the trade-off between supply chain agility and complexity of global supply chains. It also opens up a new research agenda for incorporation of big data and semantic web applications for the design of supply chain information systems. Practical implications The proposed information system provides integrated capabilities for production, supply chain event and disruption risk management under a collaborative basis. Originality/value A novel aspect in the design of multi-agent systems is introduced for inter-organisational processes, which incorporates semantic web information and a big data ontology in the agent society.

An agent-based supplier selection framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 180-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Jahani ◽  
Masrah Azrifah Azmi Murad ◽  
Md. Nasir bin Sulaiman ◽  
Mohd. Hasan Selamat
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supplier Selection ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Case Based Reasoning ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Case Based

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach that integrates three complementary perspectives, multi-agent systems, fuzzy logic and case-based reasoning. Unsatisfied customers, information overload and high uncertainty are the main challenges that are faced by today’s supply chains. In addition, a few existing agent-based approaches are tied to real-world supply chain functions like supplier selection. These approaches are static and do not adequately take the qualitative and quantitative factors into consideration. Therefore, an agent-based framework is needed to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed approach integrates three complementary perspectives, multi-agent systems, fuzzy logic and case-based reasoning, as a common framework. These perspectives were rarely used together as a common framework in previous studies. Furthermore, an exploratory case study in an office furniture company is undertaken to illustrate the value of the framework. Findings – The proposed agent-based framework evaluates supply offers based on customers’ preferences, recommends alternative products in the case of stock-out and provides a collaborative environment among agents who represent different supply chain entities. The proposed fuzzy case-based reasoning (F-CBR) approach reduces the information overload by organizing them into the relevant cases that causes less overall search between cases. In addition, its fuzzy aspect addresses the high uncertainty of supply chains, especially when there are different customers’ orders with different preferences. Research limitations/implications – The present study does not include the functions of inventory management and negotiation between agents. Furthermore, only the case description and case retrieval phases of the case-based reasoning approach are investigated, and the remaining phases like case retaining, case reusing and case revising are not included in the scope of this paper. Originality/value – This framework balances the interests of different supply chain structural elements where each of them is represented by a specific agent for better collaboration, decision-making and problem-solving in a multi-agent environment. In addition, the supplier selection and order gathering mechanisms are developed based on customers’ orders.

scholarly journals Use of the Multi-Agent Paradigm in Sustainable Tourism

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Husáková
Keyword(s):  
Complex Systems ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
In Silico Models

Abstract Complex systems are characterised by a huge amount of components, which are highly linked with each other. Tourism is one of the examples of complex systems collecting various activities leading to the enrichment of travellers in the view of receiving new experiences and increasing economic prosperity of specific destinations. The complex systems can be investigated with various bottom-up and top-down approaches. The multi-agent-based modelling is the bottom-up approach that is focused on the representation of individual entities for the exploration of possible interactions among them and their effects on surrounding environments. These systems are able to integrate knowledge of socio-cultural, economic, physical, biological or environmental systems for in-silico models development, which can be used for experimentation with a system. The main aim of the presented text is to introduce links between tourism, complexity and to advocate usefulness of the multi-agent-based systems for the exploration of tourism and its sustainability. The evaluation of suitability of the multi-agent systems in tourism is based on the investigation of fundamental characteristics of these two systems and on the review of specific applications of the multi-agent systems in sustainable tourism.

scholarly journals Trust in multi-agent systems

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
SARVAPALI D. RAMCHURN ◽  
DONG HUYNH ◽  
NICHOLAS R. JENNINGS
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
The Core ◽  
Open Distributed Systems ◽  
Multi Agent

Trust is a fundamental concern in large-scale open distributed systems. It lies at the core of all interactions between the entities that have to operate in such uncertain and constantly changing environments. Given this complexity, these components, and the ensuing system, are increasingly being conceptualised, designed, and built using agent-based techniques and, to this end, this paper examines the specific role of trust in multi-agent systems. In particular, we survey the state of the art and provide an account of the main directions along which research efforts are being focused. In so doing, we critically evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the main models that have been proposed and show how, fundamentally, they all seek to minimise the uncertainty in interactions. Finally, we outline the areas that require further research in order to develop a comprehensive treatment of trust in complex computational settings.

Agent mining approaches: an ontological view

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Grislin-Le Strugeon ◽  
Kathia Marcal de Oliveira ◽  
Dorsaf Zekri ◽  
Marie Thilliez
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Knowledge Discovery ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Software Agent ◽  
Application Domain ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Agent Mining ◽  
Multi Agent

Abstract Introduced as an interdisciplinary area that combines multi-agent systems, data mining and knowledge discovery, agent mining is currently in practice. To develop agent mining applications involves a combination of different approaches (model, architecture, technique and so on) from software agent and data mining (DM) areas. This paper presents an investigation of the approaches used in the agent mining systems by deeply analyzing 121 papers resulting from a systematic literature review. An ontology was defined to capitalize the knowledge collected from this study. The ontology is organized according to seven main facets: the problem addressed, the application domain, the agent-related and the mining-related elements, the models, processes and algorithms. This ontology is aimed at providing support to decisions about agent mining application design.

Enhancing Social Networks with Agent and Semantic Web Technologies

2012 ◽  
pp. 83-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Bergenti ◽  
Enrico Franchi ◽  
Agostino Poggi
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Semantic Web ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Semantic Web Technologies ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Web Technologies ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Relevant Work

In this chapter, the authors describe the relationships between multi-agent systems, social networks, and the Semantic Web within collaborative work; they also review how the integration of multi-agent systems and Semantic Web technologies and techniques can be used to enhance social networks at all scales. The chapter first provides a review of relevant work on the application of agent-based models and abstractions to the key ingredients of our work: collaborative systems, the Semantic Web, and social networks. Then, the chapter discusses the reasons current multi-agent systems and their foreseen evolution might be a fundamental means for the realization of the future Semantic Social Networks. Finally, some conclusions are drawn.

Agent-Based Software Engineering, Paradigm Shift, or Research Program Evolution

2018 ◽  
pp. 284-296
Author(s):  
Yves Wautelet ◽  
Christophe Schinckus ◽  
Manuel Kolp
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Context ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Flexible Systems ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Agent Orientation ◽  
Development Agendas

Information systems are deeply linked to human activities. Unfortunately, development methodologies have been traditionally inspired by programming concepts and not by organizational and human ones. This leads to ontological and semantic gaps between the systems and their environments. The adoption of agent orientation and multi-agent systems (MAS) helps to reduce these gaps by offering modeling tools based on organizational concepts (actors, agents, goals, objectives, responsibilities, social dependencies, etc.) as fundamentals to conceive systems through all the development process. Moreover, software development is becoming increasingly complex. Stakeholders' expectations are growing higher while the development agendas have to be as short as possible. Project managers, business analysts, and software developers need adequate processes and models to specify the organizational context, capture requirements, and build efficient and flexible systems.

Evolutionary Computation as a Paradigm for Engineering Emergent Behaviour in Multi-Agent Systems

2011 ◽  
pp. 118-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Smith ◽  
Claudio Bonacina
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Computation ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Multi Agent Systems ◽  
Agent System ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Systems ◽  
Emergent Behaviour ◽  
Shaping System ◽  
Multi Agent

In the multi-agent system (MAS) context, the theories and practices of evolutionary computation (EC) have new implications, particularly with regard to engineering and shaping system behaviors. Thus, it is important that we consider the embodiment of EC in “real” agents, that is, agents that involve the real restrictions of time and space within MASs. In this chapter, we address these issues in three ways. First, we relate the foundations of EC theory to MAS and consider how general interactions among agents fit within this theory. Second, we introduce a platform independent agent system to assure that our EC methods work within the generic, but realistic, constraints of agents. Finally, we introduce an agent-based system of EC objects. Concluding sections discuss implications and future directions.

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