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Perspectives on Agent-Based Models and Geographical Systems

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Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems

Abstract

This chapter guides the reader to the material in this book. It begins by outlining the meaning and rationale for agent-based models/modelling (ABM), focusing on their history, how they evolved and how they sit within the broader context of modelling and simulation for geographical systems. Three themes which we see essential to ABM are then outlined, namely the question of detail versus model and data parsimony of which ABM represents the former, questions of model validation that flow from this, and lastly issues about the extent to which ABM is a generic or specific style in terms of applications. We examine the essence of such models in terms of the way behaviour is modelled using various rules, and then we discuss technical issues such as computation, visualization, error, and schemes for model design. All this sets the context for the various chapters that follow. We conclude by explaining briefly what is contained in each chapter and by guiding the reader in how best to use this book.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    ABM is also taken to mean Agent-Based Model (s) as well as Modelling.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), University College London, London, UK

    Michael Batty

  2. Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Andrew T. Crooks

  3. International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

    Linda M. See

  4. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Alison J. Heppenstall

Authors
  1. Michael Batty
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  2. Andrew T. Crooks
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  3. Linda M. See
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  4. Alison J. Heppenstall
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Batty .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

    Alison J. Heppenstall

  2. , Department of Computational Social Scien, George Mason University, University Drive 4400, Fairfax, 22030, Virginia, USA

    Andrew T. Crooks

  3. International Institute of Applied Syste, Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg, 2361, Austria

    Linda M. See

  4. Ctr. Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London, Torrington Place 1-19, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

    Michael Batty

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Batty, M., Crooks, A.T., See, L.M., Heppenstall, A.J. (2012). Perspectives on Agent-Based Models and Geographical Systems. In: Heppenstall, A., Crooks, A., See, L., Batty, M. (eds) Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8927-4_1

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