Computer Aided Systems Theory Eurocast 99

Computer Aided Systems Theory (CAST) deals with the task of contributing to the creation and implementation of tools for the support of usual CAD tools for design and simulation by formal mathematical or logical means in modeling. Naturally,thebasisfortheconstructionandimplementationofCASTsoftwareis provided by the existing current knowledge in modeling and by the experience of practitioners in engineering design. Systems Theory, as seen from the viewpoint of CAST research and CAST tool development, has the role of providing formal frameworks and related theoretical knowledge for model-construction and model analysis. We purposely do not distinguish sharply between systems theory and CAST and other similar ?elds of research and tool development such as for example in applied numerical analysis or other computational sciences. TheheredocumentedEUROCASTconferencewhichtookplaceattheVienna University of Technology re?ects current mainstreams in CAST. As in the p- vious conferences new topics, both theoretical and application oriented, have been addressed. The presented papers show that the ?eld is widespread and that new - velopments in computer science and in information technology are the driving forces. Theeditorswouldliketothanktheauthorsforprovidingtheirmanuscriptsin hardcopyandinelectronicformontime.Thesta?ofSpringer-VerlagHeidelberg gave, as in previous CAST publications, valuable support in editing this volume.

Computer Aided Systems Theory (CAST) deals with the task of contributing to the creation and implementation of tools for the support of usual CAD tools for design and simulation by formal mathematical or logical means in modeling. Naturally,thebasisfortheconstructionandimplementationofCASTsoftwareis provided by the existing current knowledge in modeling and by the experience of practitioners in engineering design. Systems Theory, as seen from the viewpoint of CAST research and CAST tool development, has the role of providing formal frameworks and related theoretical knowledge for model-construction and model analysis. We purposely do not distinguish sharply between systems theory and CAST and other similar ?elds of research and tool development such as for example in applied numerical analysis or other computational sciences. TheheredocumentedEUROCASTconferencewhichtookplaceattheVienna University of Technology re?ects current mainstreams in CAST. As in the p- vious conferences new topics, both theoretical and application oriented, have been addressed. The presented papers show that the ?eld is widespread and that new - velopments in computer science and in information technology are the driving forces. Theeditorswouldliketothanktheauthorsforprovidingtheirmanuscriptsin hardcopyandinelectronicformontime.Thesta?ofSpringer-VerlagHeidelberg gave, as in previous CAST publications, valuable support in editing this volume.

The concept of CAST as Computer Aided Systems Theory, was introduced by F. Pichler in the late 1980s to include those computer theoretical and practical developments as tools to solve problems in System Science. It was considered as the third component (the other two being CAD and CAM) necessary to build the path from Computer and Systems Sciences to practical developments in Science and Engineering. The University of Linz organized the first CAST workshop in April 1988, which demonstrated the acceptance of the concepts by the scientific and technical community. Next, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria joined the University of Linz to organize the first international meeting on CAST, (Las Palmas, February 1989), under the name EUROCAST’89. This was a very successful gathering of systems theorists, computer scientists, and engineers from most European countries, North America, and Japan. It was agreed that EUROCAST international conferences would be organized every two years, alternating between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a continental European location. Thus, successive EUROCAST meetings have taken place in Krems (1991), Las Palmas (1993), Innsbruck (1995), Las Palmas (1997), and Vienna (1999), in addition to an extra-European CAST Conference in Ottawa in 1994.

The concept of CAST as Computer Aided Systems Theory, was introduced by F. Pichler of Linz in the late 80’s to include those computer theoretical and practical developments as tools to solve problems in System Science. It was considered as the third component (the other two being CAD and CAM) that will provide for a complete picture of the path from Computer and Systems Sciences to practical developments in Science and Engineering. The University of Linz organized the ?rst CAST workshop in April 1988, which demonstrated the acceptance of the concepts by the scienti?c and technical community. Next, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria joined the University of Linz to organize the ?rst international meeting on CAST, (Las Palmas February 1989), under the name EUROCAST’89, that was a very successful gathering of systems theorists, computer scientists and engineers from most of European countries, North America and Japan. ItwasagreedthatEUROCASTinternationalconferenceswouldbeorganized every two years. Thus, the following EUROCAST meetings took place in Krems (1991), Las Palmas (1993), Innsbruck (1995), Las Palmas (1997), Vienna (1999) and Las Palmas(2001), in addition to an extra-European CAST Conference in Ottawain1994.SelectedpapersfromthosemeetingswerepublishedbySpringer- Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science nos. 410, 585, 763, 1030, 1333, 1728 and 2178 and in several special issues of Cybernetics and Systems: an lnternat- nal Journal. EUROCAST and CAST meetings are de?nitely consolidated, as it is demonstrated by the number and quality of the contributions over the years.

This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the third European Computer Aided Systems Theory workshop, EUROCAST '93, held in Spain in February 1993. The workshop emphasizes interdisciplinarity with the specificgoal of creating a synergy between fields such as systems theory, computer science, systems engineering and related areas. The contributions in this volume are strongly related to current problems in CAST research. They emphasize an engineering point of view concerning systems theory. Since the computer is an essential instrument in CAST research, there are close relations to specific topics incomputer science. The papers are grouped into parts on systems theory and systems technology, specific methods, and applications.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Computer Aided Systems Theory, EUROCAST 2001, held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain in February 2001. The 48 revised full papers presented together with two invited papers were carefully selected during two rounds of reviewing and revision. The book offers topical sections on computer aided systems theory, mathematical and logical formalisms, information and decision, complexity, neural-like computation, automation and control, computer algebra and automated theorem proving, and functional programming and lambda calculus.