Objectif Systems composed of a large number of interacting heterogeneous agents often display complex properties that cannot be deduced in a simple way by studying the behaviour of single agents. This research aims to study three-dimensional complex pattern for mation, in order to get a strong insight into features that may be relevant in more complex situations where the components move in a high dimensional configuration space. Animal group movements look very promising in this respect and we will concentra te our attention on the flocking behaviour of starlings, representing perhaps the best widely known example for the above class of behaviours. We will study the reasons of particular forms of flocking with the aim of understanding the collective movement o f the flock and its form in relation to the behaviour of the individuals of the group. Our goals are the following: a) By getting three-dimensional reconstructions of their movements, we aim to characterize experimentally in a quantitative and qualitative way these movements. We plan to monitor the flock movements in space with the resolution of a single bird, in order to get information on possible leadership of a few birds. Data taken in aviaries will be used for comparison. b) We want to construct new mo dels that give rise to such complex group behaviour. The experimental data should be crucial in inspiring these models and to discriminate possible differences among them. c) We intend to interpret the biological meaning and relevance of the formation of t hese patterns. d) As far as collective movements are common phenomena also in human behaviour (particular relevant in economics) we would like to explore the possibility of exporting the models and the techniques to economic collective choices. In this way we try to develop ways to investigate the reasons of social events, e.g. fashions, to understand socio-economic herding, and possibly to devise methods to tame dangerous excessive market fluctuations. Champ scientifique social scienceseconomics and businesseconomics Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Thème(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Appel à propositions FP6-2003-NEST-PATH Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinateur ISTITUTO NAZIONALE PER LA FISICA DELLA MATERIA Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Corso Perrone, 24 GENOVA Italie Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (6) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 31-33 Rue de la Federation PARIS Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée EOTVOS LORAND TUDOMANYEGYETEM Hongrie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Egyetem ter 1-3 BUDAPEST Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Viale Regina Elena 299 ROMA Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée MAX PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. Allemagne Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Hofgartenstrasse 8 MUENCHEN Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN Pays-Bas Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Broerstraat 5 GRONINGEN Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée SCUOLA NORMALE SUPERIORE Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7 PISA Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée