Systems Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences

Systems Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRI PAS) conducts studies in broadly understood systems analysis, encompassing analysis, modelling, optimization and decision making concerning complex – composite, multi-aspect and multicriteria problems, whose description is usually imperfect in view of the inherent uncertainty, imprecision of verbal formulations, lack of complete information, or incapacity of observing all of the essential variables. Systems research is being developing rapidly and intensively for the last few decades in the economically most advanced countries. Within the framework of systems research interdisciplinary methodologies are developed and applied. This concerns such disciplines as: computer science, control science and robotics, environmental engineering, telecommunication, management sciences, and many others, where complex systems have to be accounted for. These disciplines are among the fastest developing fields of science and technology, linking theoretical advancement, high innovativeness and rapid progress. The scientific teams at SRI PAS enjoy on this area a prominent position not only in Poland, but on the worldwide scale as well.

Thus, in the domain of modern tools for systems analysis, the research conducted concerns, in particular, elaboration of algorithms of mathematical modelling, optimization and control, methods of statistical modelling, as well as modelling and processing of imperfect information. In the area of modern computer science methods investigations are carried out related to knowledge-based systems, intelligent information retrieval systems, computational intelligence, artificial intelligence, decision support systems, with special emphasis on preference modelling, and the Internet of Things. The application-oriented studies concern the very important questions, associated, for instance, with modelling of environmental pollution emission processes, pollution transport and abatement, estimation of resulting risk for human health, but also with computer-based systems, assisting the management of pollutant emissions. Studies are conducted, as well, dealing with uncertainty of greenhouse gases emissions, the possibilities of decreasing this uncertainty and of accounting for it in the emission permit trading and policy making. Research is carried out, concerning management of energy in electric power grids with dispersed energy generation, including alternative energy sources. Important fields of study at the Institute are constituted by the questions of risk analysis, system reliability, sustainable development, etc.

Investigations, conducted at SRI PAS, are closely associated with the essential needs an challenges, arising in the context of the national economy. The fundamental and methodological research results cause that the teams at the Institute are capable of effectively applying the advanced approaches for solving the practical problems from numerous domains of life, characterized by high complexity. One should mention, first of all, the complicated problems, related to the environment, its resources and its protection. This applies, in particular, to modelling and control of water supply and sewage systems, including water treatment and purification, to modelling of air pollution and transport processes, together with analysis respective uncertainty, to computer-based systems of energy management in active grids, to modern decision support systems, as well as systemic risk and reliability analyses, modelling of various aspects of sustainable development, or of pathways towards the knowledge-based economy, and many other complex issues.