multi-agent systems for the simulation of land-use and land.pdfVIP

Multi-Agent Systems for the Simulation of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change: A Review Dawn C. Parker,* Steven M. Manson,** Marco A. Janssen,*** Matthew J. Hoffmann,**** and Peter Deadman***** *Departments of Geography and Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University **Department of Geography, University of Minnesota ***Center for the Study of Institutions, Population, and Environmental Change, Indiana University ****Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware *****Department of Geography, University of Waterloo This article presents an overview of multi-agent system models of land-use/cover change (MAS/LUCC models). This special class of LUCC models combines a cellular landscape model with agent-based representations of decision making, integrating the two components through specification of interdependencies and feedbacks between agents and their environment. The authors review alternative LUCC modeling techniques and discuss the ways in which MAS/LUCC models may overcome some important limitations of existing techniques. We briefly review ongoing MAS/LUCC modeling efforts in four research areas. We discuss the potential strengths of MAS/LUCC models and suggest that these strengths guide researchers in assessing the appropriate choice of model for their particular research question. We find that MAS/LUCC models are particularly well suited for representing complex spatial interactions under heterogeneous conditions and for modeling decentralized, autonomous decision making. We discuss a range of possible roles for MAS/LUCC models, from abstract models designed to