USP-E0361 - Complex Adaptive Systems, Lecture, 24.4.2023-22.5.2023

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Understand the principles of systems thinking and the development of systems theory.

  • Identify the key characteristics of a complex system and complexity sciences.

  • Understand the nature of cities as far-from-equilibrium systems.

  • Identify interconnections between key concepts of complex adaptive systems, such as balancing and amplifying feedback loops, self-organization and emergence.

  • Get familiar with model-driven exploration and simulation of emergent order.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 24.04.2023 - 22.05.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Anssi Joutsiniemi

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Course is built around lecture series on systemic interaction and ontology on urban modelling. Lectures develop the theoretical and historical background of systems thinking in its various forms. The narrative is built on the development General Systems Theory of 1950 s to the most recent trends of systems thinking. Along the course students gets familiar with various families of rule-based modelling connected to cellular automaton, multi-agent systems and network theory.  Lectures are supported with hands-on exercises using general purpose modelling and simulation tools like NetLogo and Processing. Theory of systems is rooted to urban planning practice with examples of operational urban modeling tools such as SLEUTH, CityScope and alike.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • Lectures

    • Class discussions in flipped classroom manner

    • Hands-on modelling exercises

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Total 135 hours. Tutored studies 35 hrs (lectures, class assignments, feedback reviews), independent study 100 hrs (exercises and assignments).

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring V
    2023-2024 Spring V

    Enrollment :

    Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts 

    Registration in Aalto University Sisu.
    Minimum amount of students: 6. Maximum amount of students: 60.

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