Framework for agent-based conceptualization and simulation

Framework for agent-based conceptualization and simulation

• Framework for agent-based conceptualization and simulation

• Rich enough to capture a diverse range of social systems
• Support developers with little/no programming/software engineering knowledge

• Application areas

• Policy design / public goods problems
• Social systems: complex behavior / discrete entities

• Approach

• Collaborative modelling
• Institutional analysis (Ostrom)
• Model driven engineering (MDE)
• meta-modeling and semi-automatic code generation

Domains

• Domains

Effect of incentives / policies

• Effect of incentives / policies

• Social networks and institutions

• Individual interests

• Global consequences

• Multi-criteria decision making

Modeling Agents based on Institutional Analysis

• Modeling Agents based on Institutional Analysis

• Formal meta-model
• Institutional perspective (IAD – Ostrom)
• Web based design tool
• Declarative rather than procedural
• Semi-automatic simulation generation

The MAIA meta-model

• The MAIA meta-model

An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community.

• An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community.

• Institutions are identified with a social purpose and permanence, transcending individual human lives and intention by enforcing rules that govern cooperative human behavior

Institutions have two sides:

• Institutions have two sides:

• Enable interactions, provide stability, certainty, and form the basis for trust.
• Cause power relations and may hamper reform.

• Important to understand effects of institutions

Formalization of concepts

• Formalization of concepts

• MAIA formal model

• Robust information and consensus

• MAIA online tool supports flexible conceptualization through participatory exploration
• Supports reflection and discussion

• Outward looking

• Information collected directly reflects the experiences and perceptions of stakeholders themselves

MAIA MM is developed as an e-core model

• MAIA MM is developed as an e-core model

• EMF environment in Eclipse for model-driven software development.
• XML specification.

• Output of MAIA web-tool is based on MAIA MM

• Explicit, fixed, rules to convert MAIA model (XML) to Java simulation

• Current work: translator code, for automatic generation of code from a MAIA-based model.

MAIA framework for agent-based simulation

• MAIA framework for agent-based simulation

• Rich enough to capture a diverse range of social systems

• Support developers with little/no programming/software engineering knowledge

• Based on Institutional analysis (Ostrom)

• Formal model

• Verification
• Model driven engineering (MDE) for semi-automatic code generation

Extend and validate code generation

• Extend and validate code generation

• Visualisation of simulation results

• Library of agent behaviours

• Extensive evaluation

• Transformation of MAIA models into other simulation environments (e.g. Netlogo or Repast)

Four completed case studies & 5 other users:

• Four completed case studies & 5 other users:

• Diverse range of concepts: makes you think about the things that you may need to consider in your model.
• Easy to follow by no-programmers
• Team of Developers