Abstract
This paper improves an existing Model Based Predictive Control Approach (MBPC), applied for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control in buildings. The existing approach uses the Predictive Mean Vote (PMV) to assess thermal comfort. It has been found that PMV estimation and forecasts deteriorate when the room is occupied. In order to solve this problem, we propose to incorporate measurements of activity inside the room in the predictive models of the inside air temperature. Another improvement to the existing approach is to use an economic cost function, reflecting the money needed for the HVAC control, instead of a cost function related with the consumption of energy.

Abstract
Load profiles are a crucial tool for power system planning and operation, and also in several operations of electricity markets. This article proposes a new methodology for the determination of load profiles based on a two-step approach. The first phase employs a neural network autoencoder to reduce the dimensionality of the input vectors. The second phase is a clustering process based on the Kohonen Self- Organizing Maps, to identify cohesive consumers' classes. The implemented approach produces classes based on load diagrams and, simultaneously, a class identification based on consumers' billing data.

Abstract
In order to increase the efficiency in the use of energy resources, the electrical grid is slowly evolving into a smart(er) grid that allows users' production and storage of energy, automatic and remote control of appliances, energy exchange between users, and in general optimizations over how the energy is managed and consumed. One of the main innovations of the smart grid is its organization over an energy plane that involves the actual exchange of energy, and a data plane that regards the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure used for the management of the grid's data. In the particular case of the data plane, the exchange of large quantities of data can be facilitated by a middleware based on a messaging bus. Existing messaging buses follow different data management paradigms (e.g.: request/response, publish/subscribe, data-oriented messaging) and thus satisfy smart grids' communication requirements at different extents. This work contributes to the state of the art by identifying, in existing standards and architectures, common requirements that impact in the messaging system of a data plane for the smart grid. The paper analyzes existing messaging bus paradigms that can be used as a basis for the ICT infrastructure of a smart grid and discusses how these can satisfy smart grids' requirements.

Abstract
In face of growing global competition, the ability of organizations to effectively use information technologies to deliver innovation and creativity is widely recognized as an important competitive advantage. In this context, knowledge of how to apply creativity techniques to information systems planning becomes particularly relevant. This chapter presents a framework for the introduction of creativity in Information Systems Planning. The framework aims at promoting the development of innovative Information Systems, which traditional methods of requirements elicitation fail to address. Finally, we discuss how the framework was implemented at a public organization to identify information systems opportunities.

Abstract
Radon monitoring at different levels of the cover of the Urgeirica tailings shows that the sealing is effective and performing as desired in terms of containing the strongly radioactive waste resulting from uranium ore processing. However, the analysis of the time series of radon concentration shows a very complex temporal structure, particularly at depth, including very large and fast variations from a few tens of kBq m(-3) to more than a million kBq m(-3) in less than one day. The diurnal variability is strongly asymmetric, peaking at 18 h/19 h and decreasing very fast around 21 h/22 h. The analysis is performed for summer and for a period with no rain in order to avoid the potential influence of precipitation and related environmental conditions on the radon variability. Analysis of ancillary measurements of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction, as well as atmospheric pressure reanalysis data shows that the daily averaged radon concentration in the taillings material is anti-correlated with the atmospheric pressure and that the diurnal amplitude is associated with the magnitude of atmospheric pressure daily oscillations.

Abstract
Sequence mining combines the discovery of frequent itemsets and the order they appear in. Most of the sequence pattern discovery techniques present some handicaps like the generation of a huge number of rules and the lack of scalability. In this work the proposed algorithm concerns the analysis of the whole rather than the parts, thus providing a holistic view of the sequences. The algorithm analyzes event logs and allows a non-expert user to understand the sequences using a poly-tree visualization. The scalability associated with condensed data structures, which shrink the data without losing information, allows dealing with the Big Data challenge. Ramex was implemented in different scenarios. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.