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Conference on Spatial Information Theory '01 (COSIT
'01) TOPIC AND TARGET GROUP The
fifth international Conference On Spatial Information Theory, COSIT '01,
is concerned with theoretical aspects of space and spatial information.
Of special interest are aspects of "large-scale" space, i.e. spaces too
large to be apprehended at once without technological aid. These include
spaces of geographic and environmental scales in which humans, animals,
or autonomous robots navigate and carry out other activities. Spatial information
theory also deals with the formal and natural description of objects, fields,
processes and events in spatial environments, thus providing a foundation
for the design and construction of geographic information systems (GIS)
and for spatial information systems (SIS) in general. Empirical investigations, formal models, and the use of spatial information
technologies reveal a large number of interesting research questions which
require an interdisciplinary approach for their solution. The COSIT conference
series brings together researchers from many disciplines, in particular:
* Geography and Geoinformation Science
An idea of the conference's orientation can be gained from the previous
COSIT proceedings published by Springer-Verlag
in the Lecture Notes in Computer
Science series.
The following (non-exclusive) topics are indicative of the field of
interest:
* cognitive structure of spatial knowledge
The conference program will consist of recent research presented orally.
The international and multidisciplinary Program Committee has established
the conference program. Papers were selected through a rigorous review
of full paper contributions by members of the
Scientific
Committee, based on relevance to the conference, intellectual quality,
scientific significance, novelty, relation to previously published literature,
and clarity of presentation. The proceedings will be published by Springer-Verlag
in the Lecture Notes in Computer
Science series before the conference. Before the conference, half-day
Tutorials
on topics relevant to the conference will be offered. Topical meetings
("birds-of-a-feather sessions") can be organized, and proposals from conveners
are welcome at any time before or during the conference. A "Doctoral
Colloquium", facilitated by a small panel of experienced researchers,
will conclude the conference. It is intended as a forum where Ph.D. students
can meet, present their research, and hold discussions with others at a
similar stage in their careers.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Please address all correspondence about the conference to:
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Conference on Spatial Information Theory (COSIT)
HISTORY
The Conference on Spatial Information Theory -- COSIT -- grew out of
a series of workshops/NATO Advanced Study Institutes/NSF Specialist Meetings
concerned with cognitive and applied aspects of representing large scale
space, particularly geographic space. In these meetings, the need for a
well-founded theory of spatial information processing was identified.
The conference series was established in 1993 as an interdisciplinary
biannual European conference on the representation and processing of large-scale
space information after a successful international conference on the topic
had been organized by Andrew Frank et al. in Pisa in 1992 (frequently referred
to as "COSIT 0").
After two successful European COSIT conferences with strong North American
participation (COSIT '93: Island of Elba, Italy; COSIT '95: Semmering,
Austria), COSIT '97 was
held in the United States, in the Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania. COSIT
'99 returned to Europe, held at Stade, Germany.
PROFILE OF THE CONFERENCE & CONFERENCE SITE
The aim of COSIT is to bring together researchers from different disciplines
for an intensive scientific exchange. This aim is facilitated by the presentation
and discussion of a restricted number of papers and posters -- the most
innovative and significant recent contributions -- rather than papers covering
all advances in the field. The conference is designed as a single track
meeting to ensure that all conference participants can get involved in
the discussions of the selected papers. As a consequence, many participants
will not present their own research in an oral presentation but instead
will play an active role in the discussions of the selected papers and
posters.
COSIT conferences are traditionally held at somewhat remote but easily
accessible sites. The participants stay together for the full period of
the meeting to promote intensive interactions without distractions. COSIT
is not backed by any particular scientific society but is organized as
an independent enterprise.
COSIT typically has had about 100 participants, 1/3 university professors,
1/3 researchers from universities and industry, and 1/3 advanced students
(including Ph.D. candidates).
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
An interdisciplinary international program committee supported by a
scientific committee selects the most innovative contributions from original
full papers submitted in response to a widely distributed call for papers.
The program committee makes every effort to optimize the quality of the
scientific program rather than to maximize the number of contributing authors.
The conference is organized in a highly interactive way using the internet.
This allows for an efficient and effective interactive review process.
At the conferences, internet connection is provided to the conference participants
to meet the communication needs of the participating scientists.
The conferences start with a day of state-of-the-art tutorials to help
bridge the boundaries between the different disciplines involved in the
conference topic. Workshops on special topics may be held immediately before
or after COSIT.
The second to fourth days are dedicated to the formal presentations,
discussions of the research papers, and to poster sessions. One of the
evenings is reserved for "Birds of a Feather" sessions where the participants
split up into theme-oriented dinner discussion groups. After two and a
half days of intensive work inside the conference center, the afternoon
of the third day is reserved for a joint excursion of some type; these
excursions provide exposure to local cultural or natural attractions. While
providing a break from the usual conference lecture format, they give an
opportunity for more extended small-group discussions of issues raised
in the papers and presentations.
On the fifth day, the "Doctoral Consortium" is held, a forum where Ph.D.
students present and discuss their ongoing research with one another and
with experienced research advisors.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
All COSIT conferences have been published by Springer, formerly Springer-Verlag
(Berlin/New York) in the Lecture Notes in Computer Science series.
COSIT "0"
COSIT '93
COSIT '95
COSIT '97
COSIT '99
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