Table of Contents

Spatial Computing:

special issue of The Knowledge Engineering Review

Spatial Computing is an emerging field of research focusing on explicit using the concept of space in computations. “Spatial computers” are collections of local computational devices distributed through a physical space, in which distance matters and where the functional goals of the system are generally defined in terms of the system's spatial structure. Applications span many different domains, including parallel computer architecture, environmental monitoring, pervasive computing, sensor networks, mobile and ad hoc networks, music and smart buildings, to cite a few. A common theme among all these domains is the emphasis on the representation and the explicit handling of space.


Submission Guidelines

The Knowledge Engineering Review is soliciting submissions on topics related to spatial computing. Of particular interest is research that applies general spatial computing principles to particular domains and crosscutting work that is relevant. Topics of interests include, but are not limited to:

  • Relationships between agent interaction and spatial organizations, self-organization, self-assemblies, collective motions;
  • Characterization of spatial self-organization phenomena as algorithmic building blocks;
  • Control theory approaches for designing dynamic spatial computing applications;
  • Coupling of agent interactions, agent mobility and space/time dynamics;
  • Theoretical and practical limitations arising from spatial properties, understanding and characterization of spatial computing specific errors, analysis of tradeoffs between system parameters;
  • Studies of the relationship between space and time - propagation of information through the spatial computer, and computational complexity;
  • Suitable methodologies and tools, such as novel domain-specific languages, for programming spatial computers and describing spatial tasks and space/time patterns;
  • Methods for compiling global programs to local rules even for specific platforms (so called global-to-local compilers);
  • Formal foundations of spatial computing models, including calculi, core languages and related study of behavioural properties;
  • Application of spatial computing principles to novel areas, or generalization of area-specific techniques;
  • Device motion and control in spatial computing algorithms (e.g. relationship between robot speed and gradient accuracy in robotic swarms);
  • Novel spatial applications, emphasizing parallel, mobile, pervasive, P2P, amorphous and autonomic systems.
  • Testbeds and use-studies of spatial application


Instructions for authors

Original and high quality contributions that have not yet been published or are not currently under review by other journals or peer-reviewed conferences are sought. In particular, high quality surveys providing balanced but critical presentations of the spatial computing concepts will be appreciated.

The manuscripts will be accepted or rejected in line with the usual standards of The Knowledge Engineering Review. The submitted papers should be formatted according to the journal style: http://assets.cambridge.org/KER/KER_ifc.pdf

For more detailed information concerning the requirements for submission, please refer to the journal homepage at: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=KER

All manuscripts and any supplementary material should be submitted through the EasyChair submission system available here .



Important dates

Submission: March 1st
First notification: April 15th
Resubmission: June 15th
Final notification: August 1st



Guest editors sc-ker@spatial-computing.org

Dr. Stefan Dulman (Hive Systems, the Netherlands)
Dr. Jean-Louis Giavitto (CNRS - IRCAM - UPMC - Inria, France)
Dr. Antoine Spicher (Univ. Paris Est, France)
Dr. Mirko Viroli (Univ. of Bologna, Italy)



Notice that the call for the next SCW (SCW'2014 co-located with AAMAS, Paris, France) is also open.