Research domains - Theory4IT
The goal of the project in activities related to the development of theory (IT4Theory) is to carry out research focusing on mathematical theories of modern computation methods in the following five key areas:
- Softcomputing4IT (Softcomputing for Information Technology): research of mathematical principles and methods of processing knowledge burdened with uncertainties and their use in the development of methods and technologies applicable in decision-making, management, complex systems design, research of algorithms inspired by biological models (evolutional and genetic algorithms, ant colony theory, neuron networks, etc.), research of strategy and cooperation in multiagent systems.
- Knowledge Systems4IT (Knowledge Systems for Information Technology): research of knowledge mining and the development of special data structures for storage of extensive collections of weakly structured data, research of the development of modern methods used in software engineering.
Research activities in the area studied by the Softcomputing4IT research team will be focused mainly on the study of basic mathematical means of creating fuzzy models, including study of the mathematical theory of fuzzy approximation, formal methods for the representation of knowledge burdened with uncertainties, the study of fuzzy models of dynamic and self-organizing systems and systems controlled or influenced by events burdened with uncertainties, the development of special algorithms for fuzzy modelling including the solution of optimization tasks, development and implementation of automatic learning, self-organizing systems, the retrieval of relevant information from data, and the development of special algorithms for the control of mobile robots and their cooperation inspired by the behaviour of living systems. Other part of the project is focused on research of bioinformatics, where there exists great potential for the development of methods and approaches inspired by biological phenomena, such as: biological computation, artificial immune systems, evolution strategies, ant colony theory, pack theory, bacterial foraging, hybrid approaches, etc. However, the development of information science brings with it the need not only to draw inspiration from these biological phenomena, but also adequately to record and evaluate such phenomena. Examples of relevant phenomena and desirable applications include protein analysis, biosignal analysis, brain activity analysis, application of data analysis methods to the collected data, etc.
Faced with large quantities of data from various sources, it becomes increasingly necessary to structure and store the data in suitable ways, to carry out effective data searching, and to analyze the data in order to acquire new information and knowledge that would not be accessible without the use of sophisticated methods and algorithms. Topics tackled by the research team of Knowledge Systems4IT thus include: processing of extensive collections of weakly structured data, knowledge extraction from data, use of dimension reduction methods for high-dimensional data, use of linear algebra methods, neuron networks, statistical methods, and cluster methods for data analysis. Research, development and subsequent application of knowledge supported by the use of software systems require the introduction of a range of specific approaches. Another part of this research team’s focus will thus be in the field of formal methods. The fundamental topics of this research will include development of modern methods for the effective creation of software systems aimed both at computer technology and embedded systems, the use of formal methods for the specification of software processes and their effective control, research and development of formal tools for the specification and verification of software products, and knowledge-based approaches to software systems design.
The entire complex of activities in Theory4IT is conceived both for theoretical and applied research. We consider this to be a key distinction, because the new workplace must retain its innovation potential, i.e. it must function as a source of new ideas which then find practical implementation – and such new ideas mainly emerge from theory. Innovation potential is further strengthened if there is a synergic interconnection of theories and their applications. The results achieved by the research in the Theory4IT part of the project will be applicable either directly or indirectly, as part of the application-based activities in other parts of the project.
Benefits of Theory4IT
The key benefit of the IT4Theory part of the project, focusing on theoretical approaches to computational methods and information technologies, is the search for new knowledge via basic research. The results of this part of the project are focused on the development of computer science and information technologies as such. The outputs will be measured primarily in the form of publications in impact factor periodicals.
However, in addition to these benefits – which are typical of basic research – IT4Theory will also make an important and beneficial contribution to the other parts of the Centre of Excellence. The results achieved in softcomputing, nature-inspired algorithms, knowledge management and other theoretical fields will form the basis for the use of these results in research and development in the application-focused activities of IT4People, EC4Innovations and SC4Simulations. Another key benefit is the output of research focusing on formal methods of software engineering, because software development focusing on the above-mentioned areas requires a highly specific approach and the definition of adequate software processes, which must meet set quality standards. The planned outputs in the form of applications designed for crisis management must meet the most demanding quality criteria in the resulting software product.
Another significant benefit lies in the fact that research staff will be concentrated in one place – generating synergic cooperation effects among experts specializing in scientific disciplines that are currently still de facto isolated from each other.