Systems Science Methodological Approaches

By making use of the principles of systems science, the scientific community can explain many complicated matters of the world and shed new light on unsettled problems. Each real science has its own particular methodology for not only qualitative but also quantitative analyses, so it is important to understand the organic whole of systems research with operable mathematical methods. Systems Science: Methodological Approaches presents a mathematical explanation of systems science, giving readers a complete technical formulation of different systemic laws. It enables them to use a unified methodology to attack different problems that are hard, if not impossible, for modern science to handle. Following a brief history of systems science, the book explores: Basic concepts, characteristics, properties, and classifications of general systems Nonlinear systems dynamics and the theory of catastrophe Dissipative structures and synergistics Studies of chaos, including logistic mapping, phase space reconstruction, Lyapunov exponents, and chaos of general single relation systems Different aspects and concepts of fractals, including a presentation of L systems analysis and design Complex systems and complexity, with a discussion of how the phenomena of "three" and complexity are related, and how various cellular automata can be constructed to generate useful simulations and figurative patterns Complex adaptive systems and open complex giant systems, with introduction of the yoyo model and practical applications Complex networks and related concepts and methods The book concludes with several case studies that demonstrate how various concepts and the logic of systems can be practically applied to resolve real-life problems, such as the prediction of natural disasters. The book will be useful in directing future research and applications of systems science on a commonly accepted platform and playground.

A Brief History of Systems ScienceWhat Is Systems Science?Development History of Systems ScienceSystem of Modern Science and Technology Disciplinary Characteristics of Systems Science Some Philosophical Thoughts of Systems Science Philosophical Significance of Systemic Epistemology Some Unsettled Questions Organization of This BookOpen-End ProblemsConcepts, Characteristics, and Classifications of SystemsFundamental ConceptsProperties of Systems Dynamics and Time SystemsClassification of Systems Systems Defined on Dynamic Sets Open-End ProblemsNonlinear Systems Dynamics and Catastrophe Mathematical Description of Systems Dynamics Dynamic Systems Theory of Nonlinear SystemsCatastrophe TheoryOpen-End ProblemsSelf-Organization: Dissipative Structures and Synergetics Organization and Self-Organization Dissipative StructuresSynergetics Some Philosophical Thoughts Open-End Problems Chaos Phenomena of Chaos Definition of Chaos Logistic Mapping—Chaos Model Phase Space ReconstructionLyapunov ExponentsCase Studies and Fields of Applications Some Philosophical Thoughts on Chaos Chaos of General Single-Relation Systems Open-End Problems Fractals Different Aspects of Fractals L-Systems—Analysis and Design Iterative Function Systems Open-End Problems Complex Systems and Complexity Simple Giant Systems Characteristic Analysis of Complex Systems Complexity Cases on Association of Complexity and SimplicityConservation Law of Informational Infrastructure Open-End Problems Complex Adaptive Systems Basics of Complex Adaptive Systems How an Agent Adapts and LearnsFrom Parts to Whole—The ECHO ModelModeling CASs with ECHOSwarm Simulation PlatformOpen-End Problems Open Complex Giant SystemsClassification of Giant SystemsOpen Complex Giant SystemsInternet—An Open Complex Giant SystemSignificance of Studying Open Complex Giant Systems Research Methods of Open Complex Giant Systems Systemic Yoyos: Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Model Examples of ApplicationsOpen-End Problems Complex NetworksIntroductionComplex Network ModelsGeneration MechanismProcesses on Complex NetworksNetwork and ComplexityOpen-End ProblemsCase Studies Systems Evaluation Systems Scientific Analysis for Positioning Accuracy of SatelliteNavigation System Temporal Analysis of Social Networks Values of College Students in China Bibliography Index

Dr. Yi Lin, also known as Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest, is a specially appointed professor in economics, finance, systems science, and mathematics at several major universities in China as well as tenured professor of mathematics at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (Slippery Rock campus). His research interests are mainly in the area of systems research and applications in a wide-ranging number of disciplines of the traditional sciences, including mathematical modeling, foundations of mathematics, data analysis, theory and methods of predictions of disastrous natural events, economics and finance, management science, and philosophy of science. Dr. Xiaojun Duan is a professor at the Department of Mathematics and System Sciences, College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, China. Her research interests include general systems theory and applications, data analysis, and complex system test and evaluation. Mr. Chengli Zhao is a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Systems Science of the National University of Defense Technology. Mr. Zhao’s scientific interests and publications cover studies of complex systems, massive data computing, and web data mining.