Design and demonstration of a data model to integrate agent-based and field-based modelling

Authored by Bakker Merijn P de, Jong Kor de, Oliver Schmitz, Derek Kaissenberg

Date Published: 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.11.016

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: Python

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts Pseudocode

Model Code URLs: https://github.com/pcraster/datamodel_prototype/releases/tag/prototype_and_casestudy_20160831

Abstract

Dynamic environmental modelling of spatio-temporal systems often requires the representation of both fields and agents. Fields are continuous with values in the whole spatio-temporal domain of a model, while agents are bounded in space and often mobile. It is currently difficult for environmental modellers with limited software engineering background to construct such field-agent models, as modelling frameworks mostly do not support the integration of fields and agents. To overcome this issue, we describe a data model combining fields and agents in a single concept. This data model represents fields, agents and relations by grouping items sharing properties into a phenomenon. The concepts domain, property set and value handle spatio-temporal attribute representations. The data model is implemented in a software prototype that shows how data on fields and agents is stored and manipulated. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based modelling Simulation Integrated modelling Dynamics GIS Validation systems Modelling Language Spatiotemporal data Landscapes Field-based modelling Data model Map algebra Domain-specific languages Geographic representation