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Distributed Individual-Based Environmental Simulation

Scahill, Mark (1997) Distributed Individual-Based Environmental Simulation. In: Denzer, Ralf and Swayne, David A. and Schimak, Gerald, eds. Environmental software systems International symposium (ISESS '97),. 2. pp. 269-276. Chapman & Hall ISBN 0-412-81740-3. (doi:10.1007/978-1-5041-2869-8_35) (KAR id:21510)

Abstract

This paper describes the development and construction of a distributed model allowing the simulation of a large population. Particular attention will be paid to allowing the modelling of an individual's behaviour, communication and interaction with a shared environment. Individual based modelling is not a new concept, nor is the idea of distributed simulations, the system detailed here offers a means of combining these two paradigms into one large-scale modelling environment. A key concept in this system is that each individual being modelled is implemented as a separate process. This atomisation of the model allows the simulation a greater flexibility, individuals can be rapidly developed and the simulation can be spread over a wide number of machines of varying architectures. In an attempt to produce a flexible, extensible, individual based model of a large number of individual subjects the client-server paradigm has been employed. Combining the individual-based modelling techniques with a client-server network architecture has been found to be quite straightforward with the added bonus of having communication between individuals included for free. The idea of considering the problem as one of interaction between an individual and the environment means that the problems normally associated with distributed simulations, those of continuity of world-views for different clients and of communication between clients, are easily solved. Although this system has been developed originally to allow simulations of the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Beringe) population, the modelling methods employed have meant that almost any entity can be simulated with very little change to the basic simulation processes.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Paper)
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/978-1-5041-2869-8_35
Additional information: Presented at ISESS97 in Whistler, Canada.
Uncontrolled keywords: Distributed, Individual-based, Population Modelling
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited: 26 Jul 2009 16:42 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2023 11:29 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21510 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Scahill, Mark.

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