[GRASS-user] Agent-based modelling and GRASS

GRASS GRASS user
1

On Feb 14, 2008, at 2:53 AM, grass-user-request@lists.osgeo.org wrote:

Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:38:54 +0000
From: Roy Sanderson <r.a.sanderson@newcastle.ac.uk>
Subject: [GRASS-user] Agent-based modelling and GRASS
To: grass-user@lists.osgeo.org
Message-ID: <1202981934.28165.239.camel@clarinet>
Content-Type: text/plain

Hello

Does anyone know the current state of play with agent-based modelling
and GRASS? About four years ago there seemed to be considerable
activity on this front, with for example, Jim Westervelt's work on
integrating Swarm models into GRASS for cowbird predictions (described
in R. Gimblett's text on GIS and ABM). A couple of years ago I
developed a simple discrete-event model of bumblebee foraging, using C++
and GRASS shell scripts, although I will admit that as communication
between the model and the GIS was primarily via text files that the disk
I/O activity caused huge processing time problems.

Then there has been the approach of using R within GRASS, and given that
R has its own library for individual-based ecological models (via the
simecol library) this may provide a more productive route for developing
agent-based models operating within a GIS environment. However, I have
the impression that the technology is going through some flux, and
wonder what users consider to be the best approach?

Best wishes
Roy

--
Roy Sanderson
Institute for Research on Environment and Sustainability (IRES)
Devonshire Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
r.a.sanderson@newcastle.ac.uk
0191 246 4835

Roy,

One of my research projects is coupling a Java-based ABM (DEVSJAVA) with GRASS quite successfully. Rather than trying to write an ABM in GRASS, we are using GRASS' scriptability to call it as needed by the ABM. The ABM manages the agents and their behavior; GRASS manages the landscape and surface process dynamics. Here is a link to our website <http://medland.asu.edu>. I'm happy to talk more with you on or off list. Also, you might want to take a look at the new OpenABM Consortium site <http://www.openabm.org>. If there is sufficient interest, I'd be happy to start a forum on ABM and GIS/GRASS there.

Michael

____________________
C. Michael Barton, Professor of Anthropology
Director of Graduate Studies
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity
Arizona State University

Phone: 480-965-6262
Fax: 480-965-7671
www: <www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton>