Socio-Technical Networks : Science and Engineering Design

There’s long been a need for a book that addresses concrete socio-technical network (STN) design issues from algorithmic and engineering perspectives. Filling this need, this book provides a complete introduction to the fundamentals of STN—including its definition, historical background, and models. Covering basic STN architecture, it considers the system design process in a typical STN and includes three in-depth case studies that consider applications in healthcare, virtual communities, and power plant management.

While there are sporadic journal articles on socio-technical networks, there’s long been a need for an integrated resource that addresses concrete socio-technical network (STN) design issues from algorithmic and engineering perspectives. Filling this need, Socio-Technical Networks: Science and Engineering Design provides a complete introduction to the fundamentals of one of the hottest research areas across the social sciences, networking, and computer science—including its definition, historical background, and models.

Covering basic STN architecture from a physical/technological perspective, the book considers the system design process in a typical STN, including inputs, processes/actions, and outputs/products. It covers current applications, including transportation networks, energy systems, tele-healthcare, financial networks, and the World Wide Web. A group of STN expert contributors addresses privacy and security topics in the interdependent context of critical infrastructure, which include risk models, trust models, and privacy preserving schemes.

• Covers the physical and technological designs in a typical STN
• Considers STN applications in popular fields, such as healthcare and the virtual community
• Details a method for mapping and measuring complexity, uncertainty, and interactions among STN components

The book examines the most important STN models, including graph theory, inferring agent dynamics, decision theory, and information mining. It also explains structural studies, behavioral studies, and agent/actor system studies and policy studies in different STN contexts. Complete with in-depth case studies, this book supplies the practical insight needed to address contemporary STN design issues.