An Intelligent Agent-based Architecture An Intelligent Agent-based Architecture for Internet Mapping and Distributing for Internet Mapping and Distributing

Geographic Information ServicesGeographic Information Services

By Ming-Hsiang Tsou

E-mail: mtsou@mail.sdsu.eduPhone: 619-5940205

Fax: 619-5944938

The Department of Geography, San Diego State University

The Promise of Internet Mapping The Promise of Internet Mapping

Flexible Information Access/Distribution(Spatial Information at your fingertips + Real time data)

Information Sharing and Integration(Access multiple Internet map servers at the same time – local

data, federal agencies, USGS, EPA, Census etc.)

Distributed Mapping/GIS Tools: Web Services(LEGO-like GIS components/mapping tools)

3D, Visualization, Networking Analysis, Hydrological models

The Network is Your Mapping Factory The Network is Your Mapping Factory

Problems in Internet MappingProblems in Internet Mapping

Temporary, technology-centered solutions:

The lack of an intelligent architecture which can

operate in complicated mapping situations and

new/unknown environments.

Focus on Databases, not on Map Presentation:

We need to create a new mechanism for

connecting cartographic knowledge with Internet

mapping applications.

Information OverloadInformation Overload Access hundreds of map layers from different servers

How to combine Map-Server-A layersWith Map-Server-B layers?

Change Symbols? Apply Color Scheme?

Create scale threshold?

Use Different Projections?

Web Map Users Don’t Have Web Map Users Don’t Have Sufficient Cartographic KnowledgeSufficient Cartographic Knowledge

Current Web Maps:

•Good Interactivity•Good Flexibility

•Poor Quality•Poor Design

Web Map Users ≠ GIS Users

Dynamic Construction(on the Internet)

User Scenario:•GIS TaskGIS node profileNetwork performance

GIS user

GIS node

GIS component (program)Geodata object

Solution: Solution: Dynamic Architecture for GIServicesDynamic Architecture for GIServices

Dynamic Construction(on the Internet)

User Scenario:

Map Display [Colorado Roads]

GIS user(Mike)

GIS node

GIS componentGeodata object

Build GIServices “Build GIServices “on-the-flyon-the-fly””

B

C

A

Possible Solution: Possible Solution: Intelligent Software AgentsIntelligent Software Agents

Apply cartographic principles to web mappingSoftware Agents (Cartographers pre-defined)+User defined rules

Establish cartographic rules dynamically (Different tasks have different rules and knowledge base)

Create distributed cartography knowledge base (CKB) (Access/Distribute different rules and symbols, color schemes, layout.. via the software agent network)

Software Agents

• Info. finders/filters• Interpreters • Decision makers

User-defined rules Cartography Knowledge Bases

Agent collaboration

Agent-based CommunicationAgent-based Communication

GIS Components(Programs)

GeodataObjects

Metadata Metadata

Design

Information Finder / FilterInformation Finder / Filter

Information Finder------------------------Information Filter

Carto-rulesRule-2Rule-3~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rule- 4

Color-scheme = DEMIso-line rulesInterpolation Algorithm

KEYWORDS(User-defined rules)

UsersColor SchemeLanduse-colorDEM-color~ ~ ~ ~ ~Zoning-color

Site-B

Site-A

GeneralizationMethod-1Method-2~ ~ ~ ~ ~Method-400

Site-C

Examples: Search “Color Scheme” for Digital Elevation Model.

Search Methods:1. Message Broadcasting 2. Agent Roaming3. Create a “Metadata Repository” to improve the search efficiency

Information InterpreterInformation Interpreter

Data-1 (UTM)

Metadata

[Buffering] in UNIX

Information Interpreter

Metadata

[Address matching] in Window 2000

Metadata

Data-2 (SPCS)

Metadata

Data-3 (Lat/Lon)

Metadata

Metadata becomes the source of knowledge bases

• Automatically convert from “UTM” coordinate systems to “SPCS California VI” by accessing the metadata of GIS data objects.

• Transform map units from feet to meters.

• Transform data from ESRI Shapefiles to AutoDesk SDFs.

The Design of Operational MetadataThe Design of Operational Metadata

Map display component

GIS-operation requirements (A, B)

System metadata

OtherGIS components

GeoData Object

Metadata(A, B, C, D, E, F)

Metadata describe how the Metadata describe how the objects should be represented objects should be represented (color, symbols) and the (color, symbols) and the domain of the object (vector, domain of the object (vector, line, transportation).line, transportation).

Integrating

Self-describing, Self-managingmap layers

Agent(decision maker)

Decision MakerDecision Maker

Events Actions

Agent(Information Finder)

Agent(Information Interpreter)

Agent Collaboration

•Event: If a new [polygon] data layer is added into point data layers.

•Agent Collaboration: •Info. Finder --> search for cartographic rules •Interpreter --> convert cartographic rules into executable procedures.

•Action: Move [point] data layers above the polygon layer.

Software Agents

Software Agents

User-defined rules(Cartographic rules)

Task #1 (Client Machine–A)

(Working memory)Task #2 (Client Machine–B)

(Working memory)

GIS data and components framework

GIS Component(Buffering)

Metadata(Facts)

GIS data object(Road, Colorado)

Metadata(Facts)

User Interface

Inference engine

Rules Facts Working memory

Traditional Traditional Expert SystemsExpert Systems

Intelligent software agentIntelligent software agent

Generalization

Hierarchy of GeoAgentsHierarchy of GeoAgents

GeoAgent

Machine Agent

Component Agent

Geodata Agent

UML notations

Stationary GeoAgent

Mobile GeoAgent

UML: Unified Modeling Language

Carto Agent

Geodata Objects

Colorado Roads (Vector)

Metadata

Colorado DEM (Raster)

Metadata

Geodata Agents

Component Agents

Machine Agents

Client machine

Server machine

GIS components

Map Display Component

Metadata

Spatial Analysis Component

Metadata

AgentAgentFunctionalityFunctionality

Agent Mobility Agent Mobility

Machine-A

Stationary Agent-01

Machine-B

Stationary Agent-05

Remote Procedure Call

Machine-C

Mobile Agent-03

Machine-D

Mobile Agent-06

Mobile Agent-03

Copy (HTTP)

a) Stationary Agent

b) Mobile Agent

Advantages of a Mobile AgentAdvantages of a Mobile Agent

•Reduce network loadUpload the agents to remote GIS databases

•Overcoming network latencyReal-time response, agents on the remote site

•Protocol encapsulationAgent carries “codes” and “messages”

•Execute asynchronously and automaticallyMore stable in fragile network connections

•Dynamically adoption Agent senses the execution environment and reacts autonomously to change

Problems of Mobile AgentsProblems of Mobile Agents

• Security (Mobile Agents as “Virus”)

• Implementation (Cross platforms/technologies)

• Size and Diversity (Small programs, more functions)

• Protocol Development (Agent communication)

• Levels of Control (Behavior, location)

Security Model for AgentsSecurity Model for Agents•Security Treats:

•Disclosure of information (interception)•Denial of service (DOS)•Corruption of information

•Attack Targets:•Agents•Agent Containers

•Countermeasures:• Sandboxing (software-based fault isolation, Java)• Digital Signature (signed code to confirm the authenticity of an object, its origin, and its integrity)• Travel Histories (maintain an authenticatable record of the prior platforms visited by an agent.• Others...

Walk-through Example Walk-through Example

Sd_pointofinterestMetadata:•Carto-Type: Point•Symbols: star•Color: red•Size: 7 point •Scale threshold: 1:20,000- 1:10,000

Carto Agents retrieve the operational metadata from data objects and apply it on the map design.

Dynamic Cartographic DesignDynamic Cartographic Design

Carto Agents re-arrange the layer sequences and reassign new color scheme for the landuse layer

Add a new landuse layer (metadata: color = blue)• Conflict with current sd_conven layer (same color: blue)• Overlap other information

Cartography OntologyCartography Ontology(Cartography Knowledge Base – CKB ) (Cartography Knowledge Base – CKB )

Statements:All point layers should be above all polygon layers.

First-Order Logic:

Computer Program: number layout sequences (1:top, 2:second..)

polylayer(x).number = i pointlayer(y).number = jIf (i < j) then {

polylayer(x).number = jpointlayer(y).number = i}

yx, Above( PointLayer(x), PolyLayer(y) )

Combining Metadata and Rules Combining Metadata and Rules

Cartographic Rule:If the color of the new polygon layer is the same as one of the existing layers, carto-agents will change the color of new layer to a unique color.

Computer Program:Color[AllPolyLayers] = [blue, red, green]Color(NewLayer) = NewLayer.metadata.color

While ( Color[AllLayers] contain Color(NewLayer) ) { Color(NewLayer) = Color(Randam) }

Inference by Multiple Knowledge Bases Inference by Multiple Knowledge Bases

Multiple Cartographic Knowledge Bases (CKB):•Rule#1: “Landuse” data objects are qualitative. (from San Diego State University) http://map.sdsu.edu/001.ckb•Rule#2: Color-hue is best visual variable for displaying qualitative area data. (from UC-Santa Barbara) http://geog.ucsb.edu/hydro.ckb)

Inference:Rule#1 AND Rule#1 Landuse should use “Color-hue” for area symbol display.

Computer Program (Software Agents):Landuse.Symbols =

ColorScheme(Hue).Attribute(LU)

GIServices Workstation (a GIS node)

Agent Container

GIS Component Container

GeoData Object Container

Machine Agent

Hardware Profiles: CPU, OS, CRT, printer, scanner

Component Agent GeoData Agent

M M M M

M : metadata

M M

Implementation: GIService NodeImplementation: GIService Node

Carto Agent

Software Agent PlatformSoftware Agent Platform

• Java (Sun Microsystems): Java Virtual Machine (VM), Java applets / servlets.

• CORBA (OMG): Common Object Request Broker Architecture, UNIX-based, IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol),

• .NET (Microsoft): Windows 2000/NT, ActiveX container, COM-based model

• XML (W3C): (Extensible Markup Language)lightweight agent systems, scripting language, open-ended, metadata- enhanced.

Agent Communication Agent Communication Language (ACL) / Protocol (ACP)Language (ACL) / Protocol (ACP)

• KQML (Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language) (Finin and Weber, 1993)

•ACL (Agent Communication Language) specification FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents) 1997

• IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol), and CORBA’s Mobile Agent Facility Specification 1.0

OMG, (1999)

• XML-based scripting language (Lange, Hill, & Oshima, 2000)

Current Internet MappingCurrent Internet Mapping

Intelligent Agent SolutionIntelligent Agent Solution• Improve the quality of web maps• Create dynamic cartographic design• Search for appropriate map styles / color schemes.• Establish distributed cartographic knowledge bases.

• Poor quality of maps - No cartographic principles• Problems with multiple data/layer presentation• Difficult to apply color schemes / map styles• Unknown situation for mapping new data objects

SUMMARYSUMMARY

FUTURE WORKFUTURE WORK

Implementation of Cartography OntologyConvert from “logics and rules” to “computer languages”

New Cartographic Principles for New Tasks3D rules, Layer Transparency, Animation rules, etc.

Other A.I. possibility for software agents?Fuzzy logic for scale threshold?,

Probabilistic theory for Data uncertainty representation? Neural networks for _______???,

PowerPoint Slide is available: http://map.sdsu.edu

A GIS spatial analyst, Dick, wants to locate a new Wal-Mart store in Boulder. He needs to obtain related map information and perform a GIS overlay analysis for this task.

Data conversion

Shape fitting analysis

Overlay analysis

Dick : GIS analyst

Ron: GIS software vendor

Buffer analysis

Matt:GIS programmer

Scenario: Spatial Analysis Scenario: Spatial Analysis

Procedure-A

Dick’s GIS node

The Planning Department

CODOT

The Tax Assessor Department

The Policy Department

Agent

Land use

Flood zone

Roads

Land value and parcels

Crime Risk Index

Procedure-A: (from Dick’s requests]•Buffer 200m from [Road] to create [Buffer zone]•Overlay [Land use] [Flood zone], [Buffer zone], and [Land parcels], [Crime Risk Index].

Agent

The Roaming of Agent The Roaming of Agent (Carry a [Procedure-A])

Procedure-A:

Agent Procedure-A: Agent Procedure-A:

Agent Procedure-A:

Procedure-A:

3. Agent travels to the agent container in CODOT.4. Executes the first line of procedure-A.5. Generates a new data called [Buffer zone] and puts the new data in the CODOT data container.

Dick’s GIS node

CODOT

Procedure-A: (from Dick’s request)•Buffer 200m from [Road] to create [Buffer zone]•Overlay [Land use] [Flood zone], [Buffer zone], and [Land parcels], [Crime Risk Index].

Agent

First StageFirst Stage

Data container

1. Agents search the location of [Roads], [Buffer operation], etc.2. Find out the location of data and component. ([Roads] URL: www.CODOT.gov) ([Buffer]: URL: www.CODOT.gov)

Agent container

Component container

Roads

Buffer zone

Agent Procedure-A

Buffer

Dick’s GIS node

CODOT

Procedure-A: (from Dick’s request)•Buffer 200m from [Road] to create [Buffer zone]•Overlay [Land use] [Flood zone], [Buffer zone], and [Land parcels], [Crime Risk Index].

Agent

Second StageSecond Stage

Data container

Agent container

Component container

Roads

Buffer zone

Agent Procedure-A

Buffer

The Planning Department

Agent container

Buffer zone

Agent Procedure-A

Overlay

Overlay

Land useFlood

zone

Over-1

Procedure-A: (from Dick’s request)•Buffer 200m from [Road] to create [Buffer zone]•Overlay [Land use] [Flood zone], [Buffer zone], and [Land parcels], [Crime Risk Index].

Third StageThird Stage

The Planning Department

Agent container

Buffer zone

Agent Procedure-A

Overlay

Land useFlood

zone

Over-1

The Tax Assessor Department

Agent container

Agent Procedure-A

Overlay

Over-1

Land parcels

Over-2

Final StageFinal Stage

The Police Department

Agent container

Agent Procedure-A

Overlay

Crime risk index

Final

The Tax Assessor Department

Agent container

Agent Procedure-A

Overlay

Over-1

Land parcels

Over-2

Over-2

Dick’s GIS node

Data container

Component container

Agent container

Agent Procedure-A (complete)

Final

Deploy the ArchitectureDeploy the Architecture

GIS node: Matt-GIS. com

Shape fitting analysis

: GIS components

GIS node: Dick.colorado.edu GIS node: Boulder-Planning.gov

GIS node: Boulder-Police.gov

Crime Rate records

Overlay analysis component

Buffering component

Machine agent

Component agent

Geodataagent

: Data object3D shading and ray tracingStatistic analysis

Shape fitting analysis

Land use

Roads

Flood area

Parcel rec.

Land use Roads

Auto. Data Conversion

Crime rate

I n t e r n e t

Local Network

Intranet

GIS Node GIS Node

GIS Node GIS NodeGIS Node: Ming

GIS Node:Mike

GIS Node:Eva

GIS Node:Tina

GIS Node

A GIS Task

GIS Node:SDSU

GIS Node:UCSB

GIS Node:SUNY

GIS Node:FGDC

Collaboration among GIS nodesCollaboration among GIS nodes

Mike’s Input: GIS component: [Display] .Required Component

Required data: [Colorado Roads] .Required Data

(Machine agent-A)init {

If .RequiredData found in [Data container] Then set .OperationData = .RequiredDataElseIf Search(.RequiredData) = Null Then print “Data can not be found.”; exitElse set .OperationData = Search(.RequiredData).CopyToDataContainerEnd If

If .RequiredComponent found in [Component container] Then set .OperationComponent = .RequiredComponentElseif Search(.RequiredComponent) = Null Then print “GIS component can not be found.”; exitElse set .OperationComponent = Search(.RequiredComponent).CopyToComponentContainerEnd If

SendToComponentAgent(.OperationData, .OperationComponent)}

Coding Example: Machine agents search for Coding Example: Machine agents search for requested data objectrequested data object