Introduction to Complex Systems: Society, Ecology, and Nonlinear Dynamics

This book explores complex systems and their implications for global warming, ice ages, water, poverty, and pandemics, using case studies and a tutorial approach to mathematical aspects. It emphasizes understanding, concepts, and ideas to address large-scale problems, and the second edition includes new examples, problems, figures, and chapters on system decoupling and COVID-19.

Format: Hardback
Length: 463 pages
Publication date: 04 September 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Complex systems play a pivotal role in understanding a wide range of significant phenomena, including global warming, ice ages, water scarcity, poverty, and pandemics. This text utilizes these case studies as motivating examples and contexts to delve into the realm of complex systems and related topics such as nonlinear dynamics and power-law statistics. While the mathematical descriptions of these subjects can be intricate, the consequences of a system being nonlinear, power-law, or complex are readily accessible.

This book combines a tutorial approach to the mathematical aspects of complex systems with a complementary narrative that explores the global, ecological, and societal implications of such systems.

Unfortunately, most engineering undergraduate courses focus solely on mathematics and systems that are small-scale, linear, and Gaussian. However, there is no single large-scale ecological or social phenomenon that adheres to these characteristics. This book aims to provide insights into better understanding the complex challenges facing the world and to emphasize that these issues cannot be addressed by a single, narrow academic field or perspective. Instead, the book seeks to emphasize understanding, concepts, and ideas in a mathematically rigorous manner, ensuring that the concepts are not vague but also not so technical that they hinder comprehension.

The target audience for this book includes students enrolled in technical domains such as engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, and environmental studies.

In the second edition, this text has been extensively revised and updated. It includes nine new examples, over 30 additional problems, 50 additional figures, and three new chapters that provide a comprehensive study of system decoupling, extensive solutions to chapter problems, and a timely discussion on the complex systems challenges associated with COVID-19 and pandemics in general.

By exploring the complexities of complex systems, this book aims to empower students with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the pressing global challenges of our time.

Weight: 874g
Dimension: 167 x 241 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030631673
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2021