The Science of Complexity

Four Delta Consulting became involved with the Science of Complexity through through the research of Director Dr Kenneth Rabone on disinfection. Dr Rabone is a member of ComplexNet, a part of the Centre for Complexity Research at the University of Liverpool. The website of New Zealander Victor MacGill provides a comprehensive introduction the Science of Complexity and Chaos Theory.

About Chaos

Complexity has been described as "The Third Great Leap for Mankind". This third wave of science took shape only about thirty years ago. Although still not widely known or understood, it promises to reshape our lives in fundamental ways. Chaos Theory describes the way simple interactions can generate complex behaviours and Complexity Theory describes the way complex dynamics can self organise into simple patterns.

The Centre for Complexity Research at the University of Liverpool regards Complexity as a broad term for describing and understanding a wide range of chaotic, dissipative, adaptive, non-linear and complex systems and phenomena. Complexity is seen as a new and exciting interdisciplinary approach to science that challenges traditional academic divisions, frameworks and paradigms.

Deterministic Chaos?

Deterministic chaos can occur in any system that has both the elements of sensitivity to initial conditions and feedback. The chaotic output from such a system is pseudo-random. That is, apparently random but entirely repeatable. The process is described and illustrated in Steven Phelan's paper "From Chaos to Complexity in Strategic Planning" (Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 6-9, 1995.)

For a review of the relationship between chaos and complexity, see the book "Deep Simplicity - Chaos, Complexity and the Emergence of Life" by John Gribbin (Allen Lane, 2004). This book relates ideas about complexity, chaos, catastrophe and fractals.

Cellular Automata

Cellular automata may be used in computational procedures to explore how complexity can emerge from the repeated application of simple rules. The ideas are reviewed at the following locations (amongst others):

• http://www.rennard.org/alife/english/acgb.html
• http://mathworld.wolfram.com/CellularAutomaton.html
• http://godel.hws.edu/xJava/CA/CA.html
• http://cell-auto.com/

Biofilm Toolkit

Four Delta are developing a cellular automata-based toolkit to model biofilm growth in flow pipes, which we presented at the CCS2005 conference.

Dr Kenneth Rabone is our lead consultant in these areas.