Validation of an agent based model using a participatory simulation gaming approach: The case of city logistics
Authored by Nilesh Anand, David Meijer, Duin J H R van, Lorant Tavasszy, Sebastiaan Meijer
Date Published: 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2016.08.002
Sponsors:
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
Platforms:
Repast
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
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Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
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Abstract
Agent-based modeling is used for simulating the actions and interactions
of autonomous entities aiming to assessing their effects on the system
as a whole. At an abstract level, an agent-based model (ABM) is a
representation of the many simple agents and interactions among them.
The decision making of the agents is based on the rules given to them.
In an ABM, the model output is the result of internal decision-making
and may differ with alteration in the decision path. On the contrary, with the set of rules embedded in agents, their behavior is modeled to
take a `certain action' in a `certain situation'. It suggests that the
internal decision making behavior of agents is truly responsible for the
model output and thus it cannot be ignored while validating ABMs. This
research article focuses on the validating agents' behavior by
evaluating decision-making processes of agents. For this purpose, we
propose a validation framework based on a participatory simulation game.
Using this framework we engage a human player (i.e. a domain
stakeholder) to allow us to collect information about choices and
validate the behavior of an individual agent. A proof-of-concept game is
developed for a city logistics ABM to test the framework. (C) 2016
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
Empirical Validation