ICCBR'01 International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 30 July - 2 August 2001 WORKSHOP Soft Computing in Case-Based Reasoning In conjunction with the International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning, ICCBR'01 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 30 July - 2 August 2001 CALL FOR PAPERS Workshop Title Soft Computing in Case-Based Reasoning Important Dates 11 May 2001 Workshop paper submission deadline 10 June 2001 Notification of acceptance 30 June 2001 Camera-ready copies 31 July 2001 Date of the Workshop Accepted papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of soft computing in case-based reasoning in an international journal Workshop Objectives There has recently been a spurt of activity to integrate different computing paradigms such as fuzzy set theory, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and rough set theory, for generating more efficient hybrid systems that can be classified as soft computing methodologies. Here the individual tool acts synergetically, not competitively, for enhancing the application domain of the other. The purpose is to provide flexible information processing systems that can exploit the tolerance for imprecision, uncertainty, approximate reasoning, and partial truth in order to achieve tractability, robustness, low solution cost and close resemblance with human like decision making. Many research articles integrating case-based reasoning with the soft computing framework for developing efficient methodologies and algorithms for various real life decision making applications have come out in the past five to seven years. Design of efficient knowledge based networks has also been reported. The objective of the workshop is to provide an opportunity for discussing and exchanging ideas on the current state of the art of applying soft computing techniques in different aspects of case-based reasoning by bringing the researchers in the said field together under one umbrella. The unique contributions of soft computing to case-based reasoning in terms of added functionality will be examined. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): 1) Fuzzy indexing and retrieval of cases, 2) Fuzzy clustering and classification of cases, 3) Neural fuzzy techniques for similarity assessment, 4) Genetic algorithms for learning similarity, 5) Adaptation using fuzzy rules, 6) Adaptability assessment using genetic algorithms, 7) Adaptation supported by neural networks, 8) Rough set based techniques for cases selection, 9) Neuro-fuzzy approaches for knowledge maintenance, and 10) Experience from applications in practice: cost, benefits and lessons learned. Goals to be achieved The workshop is aimed at providing a forum describing the latest research work on how soft computing techniques can be used in building and maintaining case-based systems. It also offers an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to discuss and identify new research directions in soft case-based reasoning, as a part of the conventional CBR. Specific goal to be achieved through the workshop is the identification of best practices concerning the application of soft computing techniques in case-based reasoning. It also tries to explore the underlying similarity and complementing nature of soft computing and case-based reasoning. Format of workshop The workshop will be held on Tuesday, 31 July 2001 and the duration is 4 hours and 45 minutes. Short oral presentations of the accepted papers will be divided according to the major phases of the problem solving life cycle of a CBR system (e.g. Retrieve, Reuse, Revise, Review and Retain). Small group discussions will be conducted after the presentations. Potential participants in the workshop Potential participants include researchers and software developers who are interested in applying soft computing tools and techniques in developing and maintaining case-based reasoning systems. Workshop participants must register for the conference, and the workshop is open to all registered participants of ICCBR'01. Attendance from representatives from industry and academic institutions is encouraged to stimulate the exchange of practical needs and research interests. For representatives from industry the workshop will offer the possibility of sharing experience and recent advances in this field. Representatives from academic institutions will gain insight into existing problems concerning the application of soft computing in practice. Submission procedure and format With respect to the planned program for the workshop, there are two categories of paper submission: 1) Application papers: descriptions of applying soft computing techniques for case-based reasoning system development and management in practice and/or experience reports (max. 5 pages); 2) Research papers: on innovative soft computing technologies in the context of case-based reasoning (max. 10 pages). Submit before May 11, 2001 in electronic form in postscript or pdf to Simon C. K. Shiu, email address: csckshiu@comp.polyu.edu.hk. The final camera ready format of the workshop papers should be prepared according to the AAAI format. (i.e. double-column format on 8-1/2 x 11 inch paper). Review process Papers will be reviewed by at least two reviewers from the program committee of the workshop. The papers will be reviewed with respect to the following criteria: originality, technical correctness and newness to the state of art and practice. Authors will receive feedback in the form of reviewers' comments. Workshop general chair Simon C.K. Shiu Assistant Professor Department of Computing Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong Email: csckshiu@comp.polyu.edu.hk Phone: (+852) 2766-7299 Fax: (+852) 2170-0129 Workshop programme chairs Sankar K. Pal Distinguished Scientist and Head Machine Intelligence Unit Indian Statistical Institute 203 B.T. Road Calcutta 700 035 India Email: sankar@isical.ac.in Phone : (+91)(+33) 577-8085/8086/2088 Fax : (+91)(+33) 577-3035/6680 Tharam S. Dillon Director and Professor Applied Computing Research Institute La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3083 Australia Email: tharam@cs.latrobe.edu.au Phone: (+61)(+3) 9479-3714 Fax: (+61)(+3) 9479-3060 Program committee Amilcar Cardoso, Universidade de Coimbra (CISUC), Portugal Andrzej Skowron, Warsaw University, Poland Bill Cheetham, GE Research and Development Center, USA Didier Dubois, Universit Paul Sabatier, France Eyke Huellermeier, Universite Paul Sabatier, France Hans-Dieter Burkhard, Humboldt Universitat Zu Berlin, Germany Julie Main, La Trobe University, Australia Maria Malek, EISTI - Computer Science Department, France Michael M. Richter, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany Rajat K. De, Indian Statistical Institute, India Ronald R. Yager, Iona College, USA Sankar K. Pal, Indian Statistical Institute, India Simon C.K. Shiu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Tharam S. Dillon, La Trobe University, Australia, Werner Dubitzky, Intelligent Bioinformatics Systems, Germany Zhi-Qiang Liu, University of Melbourne, Australia