Gachnang, Phillip
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Determination of weights for multiobjective combinatorial optimization in incident management with an evolutionary algorithm
Incident management in railway operations includes dealing with complex and multiobjective planning problems with numerous constraints, usually with incomplete information and under time pressure. An incident should be resolved quickly with minor deviations from the original plans and at acceptable costs. The problem formulation usually includes multiple objectives relevant to a railway company and the employees involved in controlling operations. Still, there is little established knowledge and agreement regarding the relative importance of objectives such as expressed by weights. Due to the difficulties in assessing weights in a multiobjective context directly involving decision makers, we elaborate on the autoconfiguration of weighted fitness functions based on nine objectives used in a related Integer Linear Programming (ILP) problem. Our approach proposes an evolutionary algorithm and tests it on real-world railway incident management data. The proposed method outperforms the baseline, where weights are equally distributed. Thus, the algorithm shows the capability to learn weights in future applications based on the priorities of employees solving railway incidents which is not yet possible due to an insufficient availability of real-life data from incident management. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=10339298&tag=1
Challenges, opportunities and application fields of quantum computing - an introductory overview
FLIE: form labeling for information extraction
Information extraction (IE) from forms remains an unsolved problem, with some exceptions, like bills. Forms are complex and the templates are often unstable, due to the injection of advertising, extra conditions, or document merging. Our scenario deals with insurance forms used by brokers in Switzerland. Here, each combination of insurer, insurance type and language results in a new document layout, leading to a few hundred document types. To help brokers extract data from policies, we developed a new labeling method, called FLIE (form labeling for information extraction). FLIE first assigns a document to a cluster, grouping by language, insurer, and insurance type. It then labels the layout. To produce training data, the user annotates a sample document by hand, adding attribute names, i.e. provides a mapping. FLIE applies machine learning to propagate the mapping and extracts information. Our results are based on 24 Swiss policies in German: UVG (mandatory accident insurance), KTG (sick pay insurance), and UVGZ (optional accident insurance). Our solution has an accuracy of around 84-89%. It is currently being extended to other policy types and languages.
Position paper - Hybrid artificial intelligence for realizing a leadership assistant for platform-based leadership consulting
Digital technologies enable new forms of value creation, value proposition, and value capturing for all kinds of organizations in all kinds of industries. Often, companies strive to digital transform and obtain consultancy services due to missing expert knowledge on how to approach the transformation. Interestingly, research shows that the consulting industry itself shows a high potential for a digital transformation, but platform-based consulting models and self-service consulting models are still underdeveloped. With this position paper, the authors propose an own approach on how to integrate human expert knowledge and machine learning in a novel hybrid artificial intelligence and platform-based consulting model, which not only offers the potential to transform the consultancy industry but also supports organizations in their transformation efforts. The authors take the area of digital leadership consulting to illustrate this.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for maturity evaluation and model validation
In this paper, we discuss the possibility of using machine learning (ML) to specify and validate maturity models, in particular maturity models related to the assessment of digital capabilities of an organization. Over the last decade, a rather large number of maturity models have been suggested for different aspects (such as type of technology or considered processes) and in relation to different industries. Usually, these models are based on a number of assumptions such as the data used for the assessment, the mathematical formulation of the model and various parameters such as weights or importance indicators. Empirical evidence for such assumptions is usually lacking. We investigate the potential of using data from assessments over time and for similar institutions for the ML of respective models. Related concepts are worked out in some details and for some types of maturity assessment models, a possible application of the concept is discussed.
Combining symbolic and sub-symbolic AI in the context of education and learning
Abstraction abilities are key to successfully mastering the Business Information Technology Programme (BIT) at the FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz). Object-Orientation (OO) is one example - which extensively requires analytical capabilities. For testing the OO-related capabilities a questionnaire (OO SET) for prospective and 1st year students was developed based on the Blackjack scenario. Our main target of the OO SET is to identify clusters of students which are likely to fail in the OO-related modules without a substantial amount of training. For the interpretation of the data the Kohonen Feature Map (KFM) is used which is nowadays very popular for data mining and exploratory data analysis. However, like all sub-symbolic approaches the KFM lacks to interpret and explain its results. Therefore, we plan to add - based on existing algorithms - a “postprocessing” component which generates propositional rules for the clusters and helps to improve quality management in the admission and teaching process. With such an approach we synergistically integrate symbolic and sub-symbolic artificial intelligence by building a bridge between machine learning and knowledge engineering.
Echtzeit Ressourcendisposition von Personal und Rollmaterial in der Eisenbahnbranche
Zu wenig Personal und Rollmaterial, kurzfristig angesagte Arbeiten an der Infrastruktur mit den entsprechenden betrieblichen Behinderungen und Einschränkungen sowie kurzfristig auftretende Störungen prägen zurzeit die Berichterstattung über die Entwicklungen im öffentlichen Verkehr der Schweiz. Es ist absehbar, dass sich diese unbefriedigende Situation über eine längere Zeitspanne kaum massgeblich verbessern wird. Umso wichtiger ist es, vorhandene Ressourcen optimal einzusetzen und den zukünftigen Bedarf an Mitarbeitenden und Rollmaterial in den Griff zu kriegen. Die Fachhochschulen der Ostschweiz (OST) und der Nordwestschweiz FHNW entwickelten mit der Südostbahn (SOB), den luxemburgischen Eisenbahnen (CFL) und der Eisenbahn-Softwareherstellerin Qnamic eine zukunftsweisende Software zur Unterstützung der Eisenbahn-Disposition, um in Echtzeit über situationsspezifische Massnahmenpakete zur Störungsbehebung zu verfügen.
Quantum computing in supply chain management state of the art and research directions
Quantum computing is the most promising computational advance of the coming decade for solving the most challenging problems in supply chain management and logistics. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of quantum computing and provides directions for future research. First, general concepts relevant to quantum computers and quantum computing are introduced. Second, the dominating quantum technologies are presented. Third, the quantum industry is analyzed, and recent applications in different fields of supply chain management and logistics are illustrated. Fourth, directions for future research are given. We hope this review to educate and inspire the use of quantum computing in the fields of optimization, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for supply chain and logistics.