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Agent-Based Modeling and Complexity

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Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems

Abstract

Complexity theory provides a common language and rubric for applying agent-based processes to a range of complex systems. Agent-based modeling in turn advances complexity science by actuating many complex system characteristics, such as self-organization, nonlinearity, sensitivity, and resilience. There are many points of contact between complexity and agent-based modeling, and we examine several of particular importance: the range of complexity approaches; tensions between theoretical and empirical research; calibration, verification, and validation; scale; equilibrium and change; and decision making. These issues, together and separately, comprise some of the key issues found at the interface of complexity research and agent-based modeling.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) New Investigator Program in Earth-Sun System Science (NNX06AE85G) and the National Science Foundation (0709613). Responsibility for the opinions expressed herein is solely that of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Steven M. Manson, Shipeng Sun & Dudley Bonsal

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  1. Steven M. Manson
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  2. Shipeng Sun
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  3. Dudley Bonsal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven M. Manson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

    Alison J. Heppenstall

  2. , Department of Computational Social Scien, George Mason University, University Drive 4400, Fairfax, 22030, Virginia, USA

    Andrew T. Crooks

  3. International Institute of Applied Syste, Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg, 2361, Austria

    Linda M. See

  4. Ctr. Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London, Torrington Place 1-19, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

    Michael Batty

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Manson, S.M., Sun, S., Bonsal, D. (2012). Agent-Based Modeling and Complexity. In: Heppenstall, A., Crooks, A., See, L., Batty, M. (eds) Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8927-4_7

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