Introduction

European Group for Intelligent Computing in Engineering ( EG-ICE)

EG-ICE is the acronym for the European Group for Intelligent Computing in Engineering. The focus of EG-ICE is to promote research and applications of advanced informatics to all aspects of engineering.

Advanced informatics includes a range of subjects such as evolutionary computing, computer supported cooperative work, human computer interface issues, agents, constraint based reasoning, VR, workflow and supply chain management.

The primary goals of the group are to promote advanced informatics research across Europe by improving contact between researchers, fostering research collaboration and enhancing awareness of the latest developments. With this latter aim in mind, the group maintains active contact with similar groups in countries outside Europe and encourages membership by non-Europeans. The group has a further aim to increase the awareness of industry of advanced informatics as well as the economic benefits that can be gained by implementation.

To achieve its aims, the group runs a yearly workshop and is active in the promotion, dissemination and exchange of ideas in order to provide effective links between research, industry and teaching. The origins of the group are from the structural engineering community but in recognition of a growing number of members with interests outside this area, the sphere of interest was widened in 2001 to include all of engineering.

Membership of the group is not restricted to engineers. Thus, computer scientists, architects, psychologists and other interested people are encouraged to participate.