Plenary Lecture
Inexact/Fuzzy Modelling the Interaction between Energy/Environmental/Economic Issues within a 2nd Order Cybernetics Framework – An Interdisciplinary Approach
Professor Fragiskos Batzias
Laboratory of Simulation of Industrial Processes
Department of Industrial Management and Technology
School of Maritime and Industrial Studies
University of Piraeus
Greece
E-mail: fbatzi@unipi.gr
Abstract: This work deals with finding optimal solutions of problems where the dimensions of the energy, the environment, and the economy are considered at the same time and ab initio, when a project is undertaken by a consortium of organizations/companies, researchers/academics, and experts/practitioners. Initially, the differences/similarities between cross-, inter-, intra-, multi-, trans-disciplinarity are defined and a continuum integrating all of them is established within a multi-stage algorithmic procedure referring to dynamic project management. The input variables/parameters are set in a fuzzy version to count for uncertainty while the suggested/possible alternative solutions are structured within a second order Cybernetics framework to include the human intervention in certain activity stages and decision nodes according to the Bellman Principle as applied to dynamic programming. Subsequently, this procedure is implemented to the selection of pipelines designed to transport natural gas from Caspian region to Central Europe. The results are discussed putting emphasis on the robustness of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) alternative, which is of special importance for Italy and the Balkan Countries.
Brief Biography of the Speaker: Prof. Fragiskos Batzias holds a 5years Diploma and a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, and a BSc in Economics. He has also studied Mathematics and Philosophy. He designed/developed the Laboratory of Simulation of Industrial Processes and the Research Group on Systems Analysis at the Department of Industrial Management and Technology of the University of Piraeus, Greece. He introduced several new topics in the postgraduate courses (i) Systems of Energy Management and Protection of the Environment, running by the University of Piraeus, and (ii) Techno-Economic Systems, running by the Electr. & Comp. Eng. Dept. of the Nat. Tech. Univ. of Athens in cooperation with the University of Athens and the University of Piraeus. His research interests are in chemical engineering systems analysis and knowledge based decision making. He has >100 publications in highly ranked journals and conference proceedings, including 29 research monographs in collective volumes, with 652 citations and an h-index of 13 (Scopus). He has participated (and chaired after invitation from the organizers) in prestigious international conferences, such as those organized periodically by the IEEE, the European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE), the DECHEMA, CHISA, WSEAS Organizations.