Speakers
Dr
Eva Hladká
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Eva Výtvarová
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Mr
Jan Fousek
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Description
Computational models have large potential for enhancing our understanding of
human-environment interaction as a factor in various social and historical
phenomena [1]. One such an approach are agent-based models that provide useful
model paradigm for human behavior [3]. When coupled with geospatial data, such
models can be spatially explicit, and have variety of applications in
computational social science [2].
The ORBIS project [4, 5] provides a geospatial network model of travel in the
Roman Empire. It combines the road network with maritime transport model
derived from historical data, and provides cost and time expense prediction for
given routes. The time and cost prediction take into account various
influential factors, such as seasonal changes, distinguishes coastal and open
sea routes, and onshore means of transport. Currently the online interface
enables the researchers to examine routes between given locations, analyze
distance from one location to all others, and visualize the importance of paths
connecting a given location to the rest of the network.
In our case, we use agents traveling between the cities of the Roman Empire on
routes defined by the ORBIS transportation model. As the preferred routes can
change depending on season and other external factors, advancing the model from
current average estimates to probabilistic distributions derived from the
simulation will provide with better understanding and robustness to subsequent
analysis. The agent-based approach allows for such probabilistic simulations,
and it is a direct extension of the current model.
In this paper we present a computational environment for agent-based modelling
on the ORBIS geospatial transport model. We provide web-based interface to
specify the agent-based model and visualize the results of the simulation. We
also enable the user to specify the parameters of the transportation model to
create and visualize a static network, with the possibility to download the
network for further analysis. The functionality of the environment is
demonstrated on a model of diffusion process on the transport network.
[1] Epstein, J. M. Why model? Journal of Artificial Societies and Social
Simulation, 2008, 11, 12
[2] Crooks, A. Brunsdon, C. & Singleton, A. (Eds.) Agent-Based Modeling And
Geographical Information Systems Geocomputation: A Practical Primer, SAGE, 2015
[3] Conte, R. & Paolucci, M. On agent-based modeling and computational social
science Frontiers in psychology, Frontiers Media SA, 2014, 5
[4] Scheidel, W.; Meeks, E. & Weiland, J. ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial
Network Model of the Roman World Stanford University Libraries, 2012
[5] http://orbis.stanford.edu/
Primary author
Mr
Jan Fousek
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Co-authors
Adam Mertel
(Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Aleš Chalupa
(Department for Study of Religions, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Dr
Eva Hladká
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
Eva Výtvarová
(Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic)
