Agent-based Modeling in Geographical Systems

Recently Alison Heppenstall and myslef wrote a short introductory chapter entitled “Agent-based Modeling in Geographical Systems” for AccessScience (a online version of McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology).

In the chapter we trace the rise in agent-based modeling within geographical systems with a specific emphasis of cities. We briefly outline how thinking and modeling cities has changed and how agent-based models align with this thinking along with giving a selection of example applications. We discuss the current limitations of agent-based models and ways of overcoming them and how such models can and have been used to support real world decision-making.