BCSSS

International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

2nd Edition, as published by Charles François 2004 Presented by the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science Vienna for public access.

About

The International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics was first edited and published by the system scientist Charles François in 1997. The online version that is provided here was based on the 2nd edition in 2004. It was uploaded and gifted to the center by ASC president Michael Lissack in 2019; the BCSSS purchased the rights for the re-publication of this volume in 200?. In 2018, the original editor expressed his wish to pass on the stewardship over the maintenance and further development of the encyclopedia to the Bertalanffy Center. In the future, the BCSSS seeks to further develop the encyclopedia by open collaboration within the systems sciences. Until the center has found and been able to implement an adequate technical solution for this, the static website is made accessible for the benefit of public scholarship and education.

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CROWD PHYSICS 2)5)

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The rules of spontaneous self-ordering of a great number of individual elements in movement within a confined space.

This curious systemic phenomenon can be observed in widely different settings, as for example in heavy traffic in truncal roads, or in crowded lobbies or staircases, or in fish schools (spatially confined to secure better protection againt predators).

It seems related to a general reciprocal collision avoidance behavior – combined with specific advantages of groupal dynamics for a better use of energy.

This type of behavior appears at very distinct levels of global organization.

In BENARD's instability and structuration by energy dissipation, it is a result of basic thermodynamic processes. The BELOUSOV ZHABOTINSKY catalytic reaction is an example in chemistry, also based on thermodynamics.

GRASSÉ's stigmergy shown in termites building their mounds seems to be another example, wherein reciprocal sensorial stimulation starts to be a predominant factor. The shaping of locusts swarms from individual insects under some specific environmental conditions leading to crowding in a reduced space, is also an example. Somehow, as stated by von FOERSTER order feeds on noise"(1960, p. 31-50)

Categories

  • 1) General information
  • 2) Methodology or model
  • 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
  • 4) Human sciences
  • 5) Discipline oriented

Publisher

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).

To cite this page, please use the following information:

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]

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