Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based models: Tools for interdisciplinary enquiry in geography? Export

@article{1982, abstract = {Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based modelling techniques represent the interactions of individuals or entities with one another and their environments by sets of computational rules. These methods are now being used in geophysics, ecology, zoology, and increasingly in the social sciences. A characteristic is that the "agents" are embedded in an environment with which they interact, so that joint evolution of physical, ecological and socio-economic systems can be studied; this makes them of interest in integrated geographical investigation. Of particular interest is the fact that they allow the study of macro-scale emergent behaviour generated by multiple individual actions. Discrete techniques have the potential to create integrated models that cross disciplines. Similar computational methods can be employed to control the spatial search process, deal with irregular or changing boundaries, and to track the evolution of systems where preservation of heterogeneity across space and time is important. The complex series of feedbacks between the different types of system can thus be modelled within a single computational framework. Humans modelled in this way as "agents" can allow the collective effect of many interacting individuals to generate emergent structures at the community scale. The structural characteristics of their social and natural environments will influence their behaviour, while at the same time constituting emergent consequences of their actions. The principal challenge of the latter is to find those sets of rules that represent the beliefs and desires of real human agents, accurately reflecting the cultural context, while allowing us to explore the social and economic limitations of agents to take action. This paper reviews and illustrates discrete methods applicable to a range of geographical enquiries, and with particular reference to individual- and agent-based methods, assesses the rich diversity of approaches that must be combined to take full advantage of their potential to explore interactions of social and environmental processes.}, author = {Bithell, Mike and Brasington, James and Richards, Keith}, citeulike-article-id = {2847609}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V68-4MMP2N7-1/1/87b62f2936ba328e1a80f2e0f60a9064}, comment = {Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based models: Tools for interdisciplinary enquiry in geography?}, journal = {Geoforum}, keywords = {agent-based-model, discrete-element-model, environment, file-import-08-05-30, individual-based-model, society}, number = {2}, pages = {625-642+}, posted-at = {2008-05-30 17:11:17}, priority = {2}, title = {Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based models: Tools for interdisciplinary enquiry in geography?}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V68-4MMP2N7-1/1/87b62f2936ba328e1a80f2e0f60a9064}, volume = {39}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - 1982 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2847609 N2 - Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based modelling techniques represent the interactions of individuals or entities with one another and their environments by sets of computational rules. These methods are now being used in geophysics, ecology, zoology, and increasingly in the social sciences. A characteristic is that the "agents" are embedded in an environment with which they interact, so that joint evolution of physical, ecological and socio-economic systems can be studied; this makes them of interest in integrated geographical investigation. Of particular interest is the fact that they allow the study of macro-scale emergent behaviour generated by multiple individual actions. Discrete techniques have the potential to create integrated models that cross disciplines. Similar computational methods can be employed to control the spatial search process, deal with irregular or changing boundaries, and to track the evolution of systems where preservation of heterogeneity across space and time is important. The complex series of feedbacks between the different types of system can thus be modelled within a single computational framework. Humans modelled in this way as "agents" can allow the collective effect of many interacting individuals to generate emergent structures at the community scale. The structural characteristics of their social and natural environments will influence their behaviour, while at the same time constituting emergent consequences of their actions. The principal challenge of the latter is to find those sets of rules that represent the beliefs and desires of real human agents, accurately reflecting the cultural context, while allowing us to explore the social and economic limitations of agents to take action. This paper reviews and illustrates discrete methods applicable to a range of geographical enquiries, and with particular reference to individual- and agent-based methods, assesses the rich diversity of approaches that must be combined to take full advantage of their potential to explore interactions of social and environmental processes. IS - 2 JF - Geoforum TI - Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based models: Tools for interdisciplinary enquiry in geography? VL - 39 SP - 625-642 KW - agent-based-model KW - discrete-element-model KW - environment KW - file-import-08-05-30 KW - individual-based-model KW - society N1 - Discrete-element, individual-based and agent-based models: Tools for interdisciplinary enquiry in geography? AU - Bithell, Mike AU - Brasington, James AU - Richards, Keith PY - 2008/// UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V68-4MMP2N7-1/1/87b62f2936ba328e1a80f2e0f60a9064 ER -