Agent-based modelling & simulation

Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) is a computational modelling technique used to simulate the actions and interactions of so called autonomous ‘agents’ . It is based on generative science which is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary science that explores the natural world and its complex behaviors as a generative process. As opposed to System Dynamics and Discrete-Event modelling and simulation,  ABM uses a bottom-up modelling approach instead of a top-down modelling approach.

ABM is especially suitable for modelling infrastructures, because it is capable of representing the technical components which are organized in a network, as well as the social components who can also be organized in a network. The interplay between the social and technical components lead to dynamic behavior and a dynamic system structure.
ABM has become a very popular and important tool.   In our suggested readings you will find the links tostart experimenting with ABM yourself.

The upcoming web lecture will teach you the basics of ABM. You will learn:

• The basic structure of an agent-based model and simulation: agents, states, decision rules, actions, the environment and discrete time (or ticks).
• How agent-based simulations help to understand prices of different commodities (e.g. fuel, electricity and CO2) in energy infrastructure.