Modelling socio-ecological systems with MAIA: A biogas infrastructure simulation

Authored by Amineh Ghorbani, Reinier Verhoog, Gerard P J Dijkema

Date Published: 2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.03.011

Sponsors: European Union Northern Netherlands Provinces Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Province of Groningen

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: UML Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Similar to other renewable energy technologies, the development of a biogas infrastructure in the Netherlands is going through social, institutional and ecological evolution. To study this complex evolutionary process, we built a comprehensive agent-based model of this infrastructure. We used an agent-based modelling framework called MAIA to build this model with the initial motivation that it facilitates modelling complex institutional structures. The modelling experience however proved that MAIA can also act as an integrated solution to address other major modelling challenges identified in the literature for modelling evolving socio-ecological systems. Building on comprehensive reviews, we reflect on our modelling experience and address four key challenges of modelling evolving socio-ecological systems using agents: (1) design and parameterization of models of agent behaviour and decision-making, (2) system representation in the social and spatial dimension, (3) integration of socio-demographic, ecological, and biophysical models, (4) verification, validation and sensitivity analysis of such ABMs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based model Agriculture Management Dynamics Land-use change Conservation multiagent system Strategies Framework Demand