Research

Location-based services (LBS) are a key technology of the contemporary mobile world. We receive location-related information about weather, traffic jams, tasks and dozens of others. However, it is quite complicated to create and deploy an LBS that actually helps the users. Missing the target audience requirements is one of the common mistakes in e.g. many smart city projects.

As a testing platform, we developed the My MENDELU application that provides information to students and employees of Mendel University in Brno. Our goal is to provide users with the right information at the right time and in the right place. Currently, we provide modules like schedule & tasks, canteen information (with filters based on allergens), indoor map with searching, FAQ module and emergency messaging system for occasions like COVID-19 pandemic. We have about 4000 active users.

However, we are not focused solely on LBS. We believe that the near future of communication with computers is augmented reality and natural conversation either by speech or by text chatting.

Further examples of our work are on the Contracted R&D page.

Every larger organisation must establish a set of normative documents to control its processes and describe solutions to common problems. These documents are usually formally written and hard to read. This leads to the necessity of different customer services. Nowadays, a lot of companies are developing chatbots to automate first-line customer support. If a company does not have a large question-answer dataset to build a chatbot, the answers can be automatically answered directly from the documents. However, we found that the automatic answering usually does not work well on the normative documents. In this paper, we describe a novel method for preprocessing of normative documents in order to use them for such automatic question answering. Our method efficiently exploits the strict document structure that is typical for normative documents. We increased the recall from 35% to 84% (for paragraph-size answers) on selected normative documents from university and bank domains.

Pisařovic, Ivo — Dařena, František — Procházka, David — Janiš, Vít
Preprocessing of Normative Documents for Interactive Question Answering. Expert Systems with Applications. 2022. v. 191, no. 1 April, ISSN 0957-4174. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2021.116314

Current possibilities of accessing business data by regular users usually involve complicated user interfaces or require technical expertise. This results in situations when business owners are separated from their data. The aim of this research is to apply an innovative approach leveraging conversational interfaces to tackle this problem.

The authors examine the current possibilities of accessing business data by business, users with an emphasis on conversational interfaces employing a chatbot as an alternative to traditional approaches. The authors propose a new concept relying on a guided conversation, and through experiments with a real chatbot and database, the authors demonstrate the benefits of the proposed approach.

The authors found out that the key to the success of our approach is a decomposition of complex database queries and their incremental construction in conversations. This also enables natural discovery of the domain model through constantly provided feedback. Based on the experiments with a real chatbot, the authors demonstrate that defining conversation flows and maintaining the conversation context is a crucial aspect contributing to the overall accuracy, together with keeping the conversation within the defined limits in its certain parts.

The authors present a novel approach using natural language interfaces for accessing data by business users. In contrast to existing approaches, the authors emphasize incremental construction of queries, predefined conversation flows and constraining the conversations, when necessary.

Kostelník, Pavel — Dařena, František Conversational interfaces for unconventional access to business relational data structures, Data Technologies and Applications. 2021. ISSN 2514-9288. URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/DTA-03-2021-0062.

Chatbots are going to be the main tool for automated conversations with customers. Still, there is no consistent methodology for choosing a suitable chatbot platform for a particular business. This paper proposes a new method for chatbot platform evaluation. To describe the current state of chatbot platforms, two high-level approaches to chatbot platform design are discussed and compared. WYSIWYG platforms aim to simplicity but may lack some advanced features. All-purpose chatbot platforms require extensive technical skills and are more expensive but give their users more freedom in chatbot design. We provide an evaluation of six major chatbot solutions. The proposed method for the chatbot selection is demonstrated on two sample businesses – a large bank and a small taxi service.

Kostelník, Pavel — Pisařovic, Ivo — Muroň, Mikuláš — Procházka, David — Dařena, František: Chatbots for Enterprises: Outlook. In Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. 2019. 67(6):1541-1550. ISSN 1211-8516.

Information panels are a common part of university or administrative buildings. We can see large panels with news or social media feeds as well as small displays on conference rooms with information about their occupancy. All these panels usually present general information without any relation to a present audience. Presentation of personalised information for a particular user can be very helpful; however, for such personalisation we must take into account many aspects: identification of users in the display vicinity, sharing of the screen among multiple users etc. This paper is focused on the architecture of such system that allows presenting customised information on information panels for users within university buildings. Our solution allows detection of a user via Bluetooth beacons. The selected close display then presents information related to the user. In case there are multiple users in the display vicinity, the system evaluates their requirements and decides how to share the display.

Pisařovic, Ivo — Koubek, Tomáš — Ondroušek, Vít — Procházka, David
Smart displays: Personalisation of information panels. In Acta Universitatis agriculturae et silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. 2018. v. 66, no. 5, p. 1307–1314. ISSN 1211-8516.

Although mobile applications are commonly using user location and behavior to provide relevant content, public information panels usually lack the ability to adjust the content for a particular user or a group of users. Therefore, we focused on the development of information panels that are able, in combination with a mobile application, to collect anonymous location data about the users, identify key behavioral patterns and provide content that is relevant for the users in the panel vicinity. The key property of our solution is the anonymity of the collected information and privacy in general. The proposed algorithm consists of the data clustering and subsequent analysis. Described solution can be used in any public building or campus that the users visit regularly.

Pisařovic, Ivo — Procházka, David — Vybíral, Dan — Procházková, Jana
Providing customised information panel content based on user behavioral patterns. In Mendel. Brno: Brno University of Technology. 2018, p. 173–180. ISSN 1803-3814.

Moving to a new home or setting a new bureau in a new city is always difficult. One does not have knowledge about suitable locations; therefore, people are frequently unpleasantly surprised. High traffic noise, long distance to shops or high criminal activity are just few of many possible disturbing aspects. Certainly, there are many data sources that can help to see some particular aspect of the city life. Nonetheless, it is extremely complex and time‑consuming task to browse through large data sets and com‑pare provided information. Therefore, we developed a solution that comprises many different data sets that describe the city environment and created set of straightforward indices such as environment, safety, shopping etc. The users just provide the application his/her preferences and the application finds locations that are most suitable for particular cause. The application is presented on the example of the Brno city area.

Muroň, Mikuláš — Procházka, David Spatial data driven evaluation of city locations. Acta Universitatis agriculturae et silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. 2018. v. 66, no. 5, p. 1301–1306. ISSN 1211-8516.

Development cooperation actors have been addressing climate change as a cross-cutting issue and investing in climate adaptation projects since the early 2000s. More recently, as concern has risen about the potential impacts of climate variability and change on human mobility, development cooperation actors have begun to design projects that intentionally address the drivers of migration, including climate impacts on livelihoods. However, to date, we know little about the development cooperation’s role and function in responding to climate related mobility and migration. As such, the main aim of this paper is to outline the policy frameworks and approaches shaping development cooperation actors’ engagement and to identify areas for further exploration and investment. First, we frame the concept of climate mobility and migration and discuss some applicable policy frameworks that govern the issue from various perspectives; secondly, we review the toolbox of approaches that development cooperation actors bring to climate mobility; and third, we discuss the implications of the current Covid-19 pandemic and identify avenues for the way forward. We conclude that ensuring safe and orderly mobility and the decent reception and long-term inclusion of migrants and displaced persons under conditions of more severe climate hazards, and in the context of rising nationalism and xenophobia, poses significant challenges. Integrated approaches across multiple policy sectors and levels of governance are needed. In addition to resources, development cooperation actors can bring data to help empower the most affected communities and regions and leverage their convening power to foster more coordinated approaches within and across countries.

STOJANOV, R.; ROSENGAERTNER, S.; DE SHERBININ, A.; NAWROTZKI, R. (2021): Climate Mobility and Development Cooperation. Population and Environment.

This paper explores islanders’ hopes and fears for migration and non-migration, highlighting the role of the ocean. Migration, non-migration, hope, and fear are human conditions. To examine these conditions for islanders and oceans, this paper uses a qualitative evidence synthesis for collating and interpreting themes on the topic. Some types of hopes and fears, and a few reasons why they might emerge, are covered for islanders and ocean- related migration. Then, different ocean representations which islander migration and non- migration produces and portrays are presented. The conclusions question dichotomies and norms in the context of islander fears and hopes, as well as threats and opportunities, regarding ocean migrations.

KELMAN, I.; STOJANOV, R. (2021): Islander migrations and the oceans: From hopes to fears? Island Studies Journal, 16(1), 23-42.

This article offers an analysis of the first four years of functioning of Express Entry, a new on-line application management system to select skilled entrants for Canada’s key economic immigration programs leading to permanent residence. Based on interviews with 20 experts on Canadian immigration policies, we identified a number of strengths and weaknesses of the Canadian Express Entry system related to four areas: immigration policy making, processing of applications, selection of immigrants, and retention of immigrants. Since these areas are integral parts of immigration policies in all countries and Canada is a long-term leader in the design of points-based systems for selection of skilled immigrants, we also specify several lessons from the Canadian experience with the Express Entry system for other countries seeking to attract skilled immigrants.

BUREŠ, O.; KLVAŇOVÁ, R.; STOJANOV, R. (2020): Strengths and Challenges of Canadian Express Entry System: Experts’ Perceptions. Population and Development Review, 46(4): 787-812

Ocean acidification (OA) is a global problem with profoundly negative environmental, social and economic consequences. From a governance perspective, there is a need to ensure a coordinated effort to directly address it. This study reviews 90 legislative documents from 17 countries from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK that primarily border the sea. The primary finding from this study is that the European national policies and legislation addressing OA is at best uncoordinated. Although OA is acknowledged at the higher levels of governance, its status as an environmental challenge is greatly diluted at the European Union Member State level. As a notable exception within the EEA, Norway seems to have a proactive approach towards legislative frameworks and research aimed towards further understanding OA. On the other hand, there was a complete lack of, or inadequate reporting in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by the majority of the EU Member States, with the exception of Italy and the Netherlands. We argue that the problems associated with OA and the solutions needed to address it are unique and cannot be bundled together with traditional climate change responses and measures. Therefore, European OA-related policy and legislation must reflect this and tailor their actions to mitigate OA to safeguard marine ecosystems and societies. A stronger and more coordinated approach is needed to build environmental, economic and social resilience of the observed and anticipated changes to the coastal marine systems.

GALDIES, C.; BELLERBY, R.; CANU, D.M.; CHEN, W.; LUQUE, E.G.; GASPAROVIC, B.; GODRIJAN, J.; LAWLOR, P.J.; MAES, F.; MALEJ, A.; PANAGIOTARAS, D.; MARTINEZ ROMERA, B.; REYMOND, C.E.; ROCHETTE, J.; SOLIDORO, C.; STOJANOV, R.; TILLER, R.; DE NORONHA, I.T.; UŚCINOWICZ, G.; VAIDIANU, N.; WALSH, C.; GUERRA, R. (2020):  European policies and legislation targeting ocean acidification in European Waters – current state. Marine Policy, 118, 103947, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103947.

The influence of climate change and perceptions of it on people’s migration decisions has received significant prominence, especially for people living on low-lying islands. To contribute to this literature, this paper uses Maldives as a case study for exploring the research question: How does climate change influence or not influence people’s migration decisions in Maldives? Previous work tends to start from a disciplinary climate change perspective, while this study combines migration, mobility, and island studies perspectives, within which climate change sits. As well, rather than focusing on the area around the capital, Malé, as with many previous studies, the 113 interviews here were conducted in eight islands across three atolls. The method was qualitative, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews using purposive sampling of ordinary people. Contrary to a view of islanders preparing to flee their islands as “climate change refugees”, the interviewees provided nuanced and varied responses. They rarely identified the potential of future impacts due to climate change as influencing their migration-related decisions. When migration was considered, it was chiefly internal movement seeking a better standard of living via improved services, better living conditions, and more job opportunities. If migration related to potential climate change impacts might happen, then it was assumed to be in the future for decisions then. This lack of influence of climate change-related perceptions on Maldivians’ migration decisions fits well within island mobilities studies, from which climate change perspectives could adopt wider contexts.

KELMAN, I.; ORLOWSKA, J.; UPADHYAY, U.; STOJANOV, R.; WEBERSIK, C.; SIMONELLI, A. C.; PROCHÁZKA, D.; NĚMEC, D.: (2019): Does Climate Change Influence People’s Migration Decisions in Maldives? Climatic Change. 153(1–2): 285–299.

Plastics is all the rage, and mitigating marine litter is topping the agenda for nations pushing issues such as ocean acidification, or even climate change, away from the public consciousness. We are personally directly affected by plastics and charismatic megafauna is dying from it, and it is something that appears to be doable. So, who cares about the issue of ocean acidification anymore? We all should. The challenge is dual in the fact that is both invisible to the naked eye and therefore not felt like a pressing issue to the public, thereby not reaching the top of the agenda of policy makers; but also that it is framed in the climate change narrative of fear – whereby it instills in a fight-or-flight response in the public, resulting in their avoidance of the issue because they feel they are unable to take action that have results. In this article, we argue that the effective global environmental governance of ocean acidification, though critical to address, mitigate against and adapt to, is hindered by the both this lack of perception of urgency in the general public, fueled by a lack of media coverage, as well as a fight-or-flight response resulting from fear. We compare this to the more media friendly and plastics problem that is tangible and manageable. We report on a media plots of plastics and ocean acidification coverage over time and argue that the issue needs to be detangled from climate change and framed as its own issue to reach the agenda at a global level, making it manageable to assess and even care about for policy makers and the public alike?

TILLER, R.; ARENAS, F.; GALDIES, C.; LEITAO, F.; MALEJ, A.; MARTINEZ ROMERA, B.; SOLIDORO, C.; STOJANOV, R.; TURK, V.; GUERRA, R. (2019): Who cares about ocean acidification in the Plasticene? Ocean and Coastal Management, 174: (170-180). DOI:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.03.020