We analyze thematic trends and challenging issues in conceptual modeling based on the metadata of 943 research papers published in a series of conferences on conceptual modeling (known as the ER conferences) between 1979 and 2005. We specifically address 1) all-time prominent challenges in conceptual modeling, 2) current challenges and emerging trends, and 3) the structure and dynamics of the c...

With increasing pressure for a more ecological approach to marine fisheries and environmental management, there is a growing need to understand and predict changes in marine ecosystems. Biogeochemical and physical oceanographic models are well developed, but extending these further up the food web to include zooplankton and fish is a major challenge. The difficulty arises because organisms at h...

In this paper, we discuss the role of adequate modelling tools in the development of nanoelectronic technology and devices, including both down-the-roadmap Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology and alternative nanodevices. Such tools can enable understanding of the relevant physical mechanisms on the one hand, and performance evaluation and optimization of device structures,...

Many important systems, both natural and artificial, may be classified as complex, and the study of complex systems is ongoing. Such systems have special defining characteristics, including sensitivity to initial conditions, emergent behavior, and composition of components. Complex systems are increasingly prevalent as the subject of modeling efforts. There are at least two reasons for this; fi...

With the emerging of new networks, such as wireless sensor networks, vehicle networks, P2P networks, cloud computing, mobile Internet, or social networks, the network dynamics and complexity expands from system design, hardware, software, protocols, structures, integration, evolution, application, even to business goals. Thus the dynamics and uncertainty are unavoidable characteristics, which c...

Measuring and representing reflection and transmission accurately are core to high fidelity visual simulation of materials. However, state-of-the-art Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (BSDF) models do not suggest a general solution for any surface class, from glasses to metals, isotropic to anisotropic materials, and daylight redirecting films. Furthermore, an accurate BSDF acquisi...

Advertisers have a need to understand the effectiveness of their media spend in driving sales in order to optimize budget allocations. Media mix models are a common and widely used approach for doing so. We outline the various challenges such models encounter in consistently providing valid answers to the advertiser’s questions on media effectiveness. We also discusses opportunities for improve...

When applying model-driven engineering to a product line, there is a need to deal with multi-variant models. So far, in industry software product line engineering has primarily been applied to data represented in (text) files and directories. Applying variation to non-textual models is more difficult, since models are complex structured objects. This paper presents basic concepts and discusses ...