SocioEconomic Modelling
Agent-Based Models (ABMs) consider the simple rule-based interactions between multiple individual agents. The global behaviour of systems of these agents often generates 'emergent' behaviour that cannot be explained by a analysis at the agents level. During my PhD research I developed an ABM to simulate land use decision-making processes for a region in central Spain.

The model is spatially explicit and directly considers the highly fragmented nature of the land tenure in the study area. Other considerations of the model are farmer attitudes, age, land fertility and the relative state of the economic market in which the farmers are making their decisions. This model was developed conceptually from interviews with selected stakeholders in the study area and using the multi-agent programmable modeling environment 'NetLogo'. The model can be conceptualised using a flow chart.

Click on the screenshot above to view a Java applet demonstration of the model. More details regarding the structure of the model can be found on the Model Details page. This NetLogo version of was then re-coded in C++ code ready for integration with the BioPhysical model.