13th International Conference on Flexible Query Answering Systems (FQAS 2019)

13^th International Conference on Flexible
Query Answering Systems

July 2-5, 2019, Amantea, Italy

Special theme:
Flexible querying and analytics for smart cities and
smart societies in the age of big data

Best Papers of FQAS 2019 will be Invited for Extended Submissions to Top-Quality Journals

Invited Speakers

V.S. Subrahmanian, Dartmouth College, NH, USA
Logic, Machine Learning, and Security

Josep Domingo-Ferrer, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain
Personal Big Data, GDPR and Anonymization

Enrico Franconi, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
Querying Databases with Ontologies: 17 Years Later

Tutorialists

Alejandro Moreo & Fabrizio Sebastiani, ISTI-CNR, Italy
Supervised Learning for Prevalence Estimation

Matthias Thimm, Universitat Koblenz-Landau, Germany
Algorithmic Approaches to Computational Models of Argumentation

Aim and Scope

FQAS is the premier conference focusing on the key issue in the information society of providing easy, flexible, and intuitive access to information to everybody. In targeting this issue, the conference draws on several research areas, such as information retrieval, database management, data science, information filtering, knowledge representation, knowledge discovery, analytics, soft computing, management of multimedia information, and human-computer interaction. The guiding topic of the FQAS conferences are innovative query systems aimed at providing easy, flexible and human-friendly access to information. Such systems are becoming increasingly important also due to the huge and always growing number of users as well as the growing amount of available information. Thus, works related to the concepts of data science, data streams querying etc., are very welcome. This year, FQAS has a special theme: Flexible querying and analytics for smart cities and smart societies in the age of big data. This provides a unique opportunity to special focalize on emerging research trends that are leading the research scene since several years.

Since 1994, the conference has provided a unique and multidisciplinary forum for researchers, developers and practitioners to explore and exchange new ideas and approaches in all mentioned research areas. We invite submission of original research contributions, and proposals for invited sessions, panels, and tutorials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following in the context of intelligent information access and/or flexible query answering systems, and seamlessly organized in three main topic containers:

Models, Methodologies and Algorithms for Efficient and Effective Flexible Query Answering

· Flexible Question Answering Systems

· Context-Awareness in Query Interpretation

· Contextual Information Retrieval

· Multimodal, Spoken and Multimedia Query Answering

· Mobile Information Access Systems

· Ambient Information Access Systems

· Semantic Web

· Data Science and Big Data

· Knowledge Discovery

· Flexible Query Answering Models, Methods and Algorithms for Machine Learning

· Flexible Query Answering Models, Methods and Algorithms for Deep Learning

· Approximation Theories in Flexible Query Answering Systems

· Multimedia Information Management

· Business Analytics

· Information Retrieval, Extraction and Fusion

· Text and Data Mining

· Knowledge Representation

· Ontologies

· Ontology-Based Query Answering

· Ontology-Based Integration

· Database Management

· Cross Language Querying and Retrieval

· Semantic Query Expansion

· Domain and User Context Modelling

· User Preference Personalization

· Privacy Preserving Querying Answering

· Human-Computer Interaction

· User Interfaces and Data Visualization

· Search Engines

· Summarization of Search Results

· Social Media

· Cloud Computing and Cloud Information Access

· Collaborative Information Management

· Approximate Reasoning Models

· Soft Computing

· Ambient Intelligence

· Computer Vision

· Fuzzy Sets, Logic and Probabilistic Models

· Imperfection/Uncertainty Management

· Knowledge-Based Systems

· Systems, Architectures, Platforms

Technologies and Methodologies for Cross-Sector and Cross-Border Utilization of Big Data

· From Flexible Query Answering to Flexible Querying and Analytics in the Age of Big Data

· Flexible Querying and Analytics in the Data Value Chain

· Predictive Analytics

· Prognostic Analytics

· Early Warning of Threats or Opportunities

· Big Data Querying and Analytics for Process Optimization

· Big Data Querying and Analytics for Risk Management

· Big Data Querying and Analytics for Knowledge Fruition

· Open Data Querying and Analytics for Open Source Intelligence

· Privacy Issues and Privacy Enhancing Methods and Technologies

· Methodologies for Application Development with Users (e.g., Participatory Design and Development)

· Hiding Complexity (of Data, Tools, Architectures, …) in Analytics Environments for Data Scientists and Analysers

· Abstractions for the Big Data Analytics Application Layer

· Big Data Visualization Models and Methods

Big Data Analytics and Query Answering in Different Sectors

· Energy Sector

· Financial Sector

· Healthcare Sector

· Welfare Sector

· Privacy Sector

· Security Sector

· Transportation Sector

o Maritime Transportation

· Law Enforcement and Security Sector

o Predictive Policing

o Intelligence-Led Policing

o Early Warning of Threats

· Customs Risk Sector

o Big Data Analytics for Customs Risk Management

· Business Intelligence Sector

Special Sessions

FQAS 2019 has four accepted special sessions:

· Argumentation-based Query Answering

· Big Data Veracity and Soft Computing

· Data Mining & Knowledge Discovery

· Industrial Applications and Systems

When you submit to these special sessions, please specify this by sending an e-mail message to the PC Chairs.

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Conference Location

Hotel Village La Principessa, Amantea, Italy

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Submission Guidelines and Instructions

All accepted papers will be published by Springer-Verlag in their Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) series. Authors are invited to submit original previously unpublished research papers written in English, of up to 12 pages, strictly following the LNCS/LNAI format guidelines. Authors can download the Latex (recommended) or Word templates available at Springer's web site. Submissions not following the format guidelines will be rejected without review. Submissions should be made electronically in PDF format via the electronic submission system of the FQAS 2019 Conference Management system. At least one author of each published paper must register for the conference and present the paper at the conference.

Camera Ready Information

Please, send to fqas2019organization@icar.cnr.it a message with subject “Camera Ready Version FQAS 2019 Paper <PaperCode>”, where <PaperCode> is your paper EasyChair submission code, which encloses a ZIP file storing the following material:

· LaTeX/Word source files;

· PDF file;

· Signed Springer Copyright: pre-filled Springer Copyright is available.

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Paper Publication

Accepted contributions will be published by Springer-Verlag LNAI series and they will be disseminated through the Springer Digital Library Springer Link. Papers will be also indexed by DBLP and Scopus. A selection of the best FQAS 2019 papers will be invited to be revised and extended for the post-conference publication in several special issues of top-quality journals.

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Call for Special Sessions

FQAS 2019 invites proposals for Special Sessions to be held during the conference. Special sessions complement the regular technical program by highlighting new and emerging research topics or innovative applications of established approaches. The topic of a special session proposal should be timely and compelling.

While we welcome special sessions in all areas of flexible query answering systems, we are particularly interested in focused research topics, specifically those related to the following innovation themes:

· Big Data

· Cognitive Computing

· Deep Learning

· Internet of Things

· Personalized Healthcare Systems

· Industry 4.0

· Smart Systems

· Argumentation

Special sessions can also cover any other area focusing on challenging open problems of relevance in applications.

The participation of speakers from industry in a special session proposal is encouraged and will be positively evaluated when the proposal is assessed.

Note that all papers will be subject to the same peer review process as for regular papers.

Proposal Submission. Please submit proposals (approximately 3 pages) in PDF format by email to the Special Sessions Co-Chairs. Proposal should include the following information:

· Title and Abstract: Propose a title and a brief abstract of no more than approximately 100 words that will allow conference attendees to understand the topic and the focus of the special session.

· Rationale: Please explain why the topic of the special session is novel and timely, why it is relevant to the FQAS community and how it possibly fits within the innovation themes listed above. Technical sessions are normally expected to have 5 papers. In exceptional cases (like industrial talks, or contribution by particularly renowned speakers) it may be possible to have sessions of one talks without an associate paper or a talk which will have a double-time slot for the presentation. In these cases, please contact the Special Sessions Chairs in advance (before submitting your proposal) to explain the rationale of your request.

· Biographies: Provide a short bio-sketch of the session proposers.

Important aspect in the evaluation of special session proposals will be the timeliness of the topic, quality/track record of the proposers, coherence of the session and expected value added to the overall technical program.

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Call for Panels

FQAS 2019 is accepting proposals for panel sessions. The goal of the panel sessions is to expand on the theme of the conference, flexible query answering systems, to new directions and encourage discussion between conference attendees and panelists. Panel organizers will have autonomy to design the panel session as they seem fit, and we encourage new and innovative panel programs. Panel sessions can span a single conference session (1.5 hours) or two conference sessions (3 hours). Possible topics for panel sessions include data-driven decision making, autonomous systems, cyber-physical systems and the other topics listed under the conference call for papers. Panel session proposal should be submitted directly to the Panel Chairs and include in the subject of your email “FQAS 2019 Panel Proposal”. Each proposal should include:

· title and acronym of panel session;

· proposed duration;

· description of topic;

· proposed session program;

· preliminary list of invited speakers/panelists;

· short bio of the organizers;

· contact information for the organizers.

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Call for Tutorials

FQAS 2019 is accepting proposals for tutorials. Tutorials are intended to provide state-of-the-art as well as emerging topics in the broad context of the conference’s topics. Tutorial sessions can span a single conference session (1.5 hours) or two conference sessions (3 hours). Tutorial proposals should be submitted directly to the Tutorial Chairs and include in the subject of your email “FQAS 2019 Tutorial Proposal”. Each proposal should include:

· title and acronym of tutorial;

· proposed duration;

· description of topic;

· proposed tutorial program;

· short bio of the tutorialists;

· contact information for the tutorialists.

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Important Dates

Paper submission: May 17, 2019
Notification of acceptance for papers: June 2, 2019
Camera-ready versions of accepted papers: June 7, 2019
Special session submission: February 15, 2019
Notification of acceptance for special sessions: February 28, 2019
Panel submission: February 15, 2019
Notification of acceptance for panels: February 28, 2019
Tutorial submission: February 15, 2019
Notification of acceptance for tutorials: February 28, 2019
Conference: July 2-5, 2019

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Registration

The deadline for registration in June 12, 2019. Conference registration fees:

Early Full Registration (before June 12, 2019)	575,00EUR (+80,00EUR for each additional page)
Late and On-Site Full Registration (after June 12, 2019)	650,00EUR (+80,00EUR for each additional page)
Early Student Registration (before June 12, 2019)	325,00EUR
Late and On-Site Student Registration (after June 12, 2019)	375,00EUR
Extra Excursion Ticket	35,00EUR
Extra Banquet Dinner Ticket	65,00EUR

For each accepted paper, one full author registration is required. Student registration is allowed to co-authors for which another co-author already performed the full registration.

For student registration, a letter on headed note-paper from their University signed by their Head of Department/School confirming their full-time studentship status is required. Please email the document together with the registration form.

Registration includes:

· conference bag;

· welcome party;

· coffee breaks;

· free WI-FI in the hotel premises;

· free access to the furnished hotel beach;

· excursion;

· banquet dinner.

For registering to the conference, send to fqas2019organization@icar.cnr.it a message with subject “FQAS 2019 – Registration of <FullName>”, where <FullName> is your full name, which encloses the filled FQAS 2019 Registration Form.

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Venue

The venue of FQAS 2019 Conference is the wonderful Amantea, on the Tyrrhenian Coast of Calabria, the most sunny region of the Italian Peninsula in the South Italy, usually called the “Toe of the Boot”. Amantea is a beautiful small city in the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. It is easy reachable via the Lamezia Terme International Airport, about 25 km from Amantea.

In particular, the conference venue will be at Hotel Village “La Principessa”, not far from “Lamezia Terme” International Airport and “Lamezia Centrale” train station (see Trenitalia).

“Lamezia Terme” International Airport provides international flights to/from:

- Basel (EasyJet);

- Charleroi-Bruxelles (Ryanair);

- Cologne (Tuifly, Germanwings);

- Düsseldorf (Ryanair, Tuifly, Germanwings);

- Frankfurt (Ryanair);

- Hanover (Tuifly, Germanwings);

- London-Stansted (Ryanair);

- Munich (Tuifly);

- Stuttgart (Tuifly, Germanwings).

With regards to internal flights, the Lamezia Terme Airport is well-connected with:

- Rome Fiumicino (Alitalia, Ryanair);

- Milan Malpensa (Alitalia, Easyjet);

- Milan Linate (Alitalia);

- Bergamo/Milan Orio Al Serio (Ryanair).

For international travelers, the best hub to change the flight for Lamezia Terme is usually Rome Fiumicino.

“Lamezia Terme” International Airport is about 25 Km far away from the Hotel Village “La Principessa” conference venue (see the map below).

The “Lamezia Centrale” train station is well-connected to “Rome Termini” train station (several trains per day).

Travelling by car, the trip to the Hotel Village “La Principessa” can be planned using the Google maps service.

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Accommodation

Hotel Village La Principessa will offer special rates for FQAS 2019 conference participants:

- Full-board: 85,00 € per person / per day;

- Half-board: 75,00 € per person / per day;

- Bed & Breakfast: 65,00 € per person / per day;

- Extra charge for single room: 20,00 € per person / per day;

- Extra meal (lunch or dinner) per person: 30,00 €;

- Transfer from /to the airport /railway-station: per person 15,00 €;

- WI-FI: free.

For reserving to Hotel Village “La Principessa”, send to fqas2019organization@icar.cnr.it a message with subject “FQAS 2019 – Hotel Reservation for <FullName>”, where <FullName> is your full name, which encloses the filled FQAS 2019 Hotel Reservation Form - Bank Transfer of the filled FQAS 2019 Hotel Reservation Form - Credit Card.

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Conference Organization Board

General Chairs

Henrik Legind Larsen, Aalborg University, Denmark
Domenico Saccà, University of Calabria, Italy

Program Chairs

Alfredo Cuzzocrea, University of Calabria, Italy (conference leader)
Sergio Greco, University of Calabria, Italy

Special Session Chairs

Nicolas Spyratos, University of Paris-South, France
Volker Hoffmann, SINTEF Digital, Norway

Panel Chair

Carlos Ordonez, University of Huston, USA

Tutorial Chairs

Ladjel Bellatreche, ENSMA, France
Carson Leung, University of Manitoba, Canada

Industrial Track Chair

Hassane Essafi, CEA, France

Publicity Chair

Wookey Lee, INHA University, South Korea

Local Organization Chairs

Marco Calautti, The University of Edinburgh, UK & University of Calabria, Italy
Enzo Mumolo, University of Trieste, Italy

Steering Committee

Henrik Legind Larsen, Denmark
Henning Christiansen, Denmark
Troels Andreasen, Denmark

Advisory Committee

Adnan Yazici, Turkey
Amihai Motro, USA
Arne Berre, Norway
Bruce Croft, USA
Don Kraft, USA
Fred Petry, USA
Gabriella Pasi, Italy
Guy De Tré, Belgium
Hassane Essafi, France
Hélène Jaudoin, France
Hendrik Decker, Germany
Henri Prade, France
Henrik Madsen, Denmark
Janusz Kacprzyk, Poland
Jesus Cardenosa, Spain
Jorgen Fischer Nilsson, Denmark
Jose Maria Blanco
Keith van Rijsbergen, UK
Maria Amparo Vila, Spain
Maria J. Martin-Bautista, Spain
Nicolas Spyratos, France
Norbert Fuhr, Germany
Olivier Pivert, France
Panagiotis Chountas, UK
Roman Slowinski, Poland
Ronald R. Yager, USA
Slawomir Zadrozny, Poland
Wlodek Zadrozny, USA
Zbigniew W. Raś, USA

Program Committee

Gianvincenzo Alfano, University of Calabria, Italy
Giovanni Amendola, University of Calabria, Italy
Troels Andreasen, Roskilde University, Denmark
Ignacio J. Blanco, University of Granada, Spain
Patrice Buche, INRA, France
Henrik Bulskov, Roskilde University, Denmark
Marco Calautti, The University of Edinburgh, UK & University of Calabria, Italy
Panagiotis Chountas, University of Westminster, UK
Henning Christiansen, Roskilde University, Denmark
Alfredo Cuzzocrea, University of Calabria, Italy
Florian Daniel, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Agnieszka Dardzinska-Glebocka, Bialystok University of Technology, Poland
Guy De Tre, Ghent University, Belgium
Sergio Greco, University of Calabria, Italy
Allel Hadjali, LIAS/ENSMA, France
Hélène Jaudoin, IRISA-ENSSAT, France
Etienne Kerre, Ghent University, Belgium
Marzena Kryszkiewicz, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
Anne Laurent, LIRMM – UM, France
Nicolas Marin, Univesity of Granada, Spain
Christophe Marsala, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, France
Francesco Parisi, University of Calabria, Italy
Simona Perri, University of Calabria, Italy
Zbigniew Ras, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Marek Reformat, University of Alberta, Canada
Francisco P. Romero, UCLM, Spain
Miguel-Angel Sicilia, University of Alcala, Spain
Andrzej Skowron, Warsaw University, Poland
Grégory Smits, IRISA/University of Rennes 1, France
Umberto Straccia, ISTI-CNR, Italy
Letizia Tanca, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Riccardo Torlone, Roma Tre University, Italy
Farouk Toumani, Limos, Blaise Pascal University, France
Irina Trubitsyna, University of Calabria, Italy
Jef Wijsen, University of Mons, Belgium
Adnan Yazici, Middle East Technical University, Turkey
Wlodek Zadrozny, UNCC, USA

Local Organization Team

Gianvincenzo Alfano, University of Calabria, Italy
Nicola Fiorentino, University of Calabria, Italy

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For more information and any inquire, please contact Alfredo Cuzzocrea