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Subject: publication annoucement
From: Francois Bousquet (f.bousquet@cgiar.org)
Date: Fri Jun 18 2004 - 03:55:12 CEST
Multi-agent simulations and ecosystem management: a review . F. Bousquet, C.
Le Page. Ecological Modelling
Volume 176, Issues 3-4 , 1 September 2004, Vol. 176, Issue 3-4, Pages
313-332
Abstract: This paper proposes a review of the development and use of
Multi-Agent Simulations (MAS) for ecosystem management. The use of this
methodology and the associated tools accompanies the shifts in various
paradigms on the study of ecological complexity. Behavior and interactions
are now key issues for understanding and modeling ecosystem organization,
and models are used in a constructivist way. MAS are introduced
conceptually and are compared with Individual-Based Modelling approaches.
Various architectures of agents are presented, the role of the environment
is emphasized and some computer tools are presented. A discussion follows on
the use of MAS for ecosystem management. The strength of MAS has been
discussed for social sciences and for spatial issues such as land-use
change. We argue here that MAS are useful for problems integrating social
and spatial aspects. Then we discuss how MAS can be used for several
purposes, from theorization to collective decision-making support. We
propose some research perspectives on individual decision making processes,
institutions, scales, the credibility of models and the use of MAS. In
conclusion we argue that researchers in the field of ecosystem management
can use multi-agent systems to go beyond the role of the individual and to
study more deeply and more effectively the different forms of organization
(spatial, networks, hierarchies) and interactions among different
organizational levels. For that objective there is considerably more fruit
to be had on the tree of collaboration between social, ecological, and
computer scientists than has so far been harvested.
Keywords: Multi-agent systems; Simulation; Organization; Agent
architectures; Decision-making process
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