Developing agent-based simulation models for social systems engineering studies: A novel framework and its application to modelling peacebuilding activities

Siebers, Peer-Olaf; Figueredo, Grazziela P.; Hirono, Miwa; Skatova, Anya

Abstract

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. When looking for a ‘what-if’ analysis tool to support social systems engineering studies, agent-based modelling and simulation should be the method of choice. It is a well-established method for studying human-centric systems. Developing such models, however, is not an easy task, and there is not much guidance around that clearly explains how this is done. In this chapter we present a novel framework to guide teams through the process of model development, from conceptual design to implementation. While we describe the tools that can be used for this purpose, we also provide guidance on how the required information can be produced. We borrow ideas from software engineering to define a more structured approach to problem analysis and model design. We use an illustrative example (international peacebuilding activities in South Sudan) to demonstrate how the novel framework has been applied in a real-world setting. This illustrative example confirms that a structured approach is very helpful when dealing with a multidisciplinary team and a case-based project.

Citation

Siebers, P., Figueredo, G. P., Hirono, M., & Skatova, A. (2016). Developing agent-based simulation models for social systems engineering studies: A novel framework and its application to modelling peacebuilding activities. In C. Garcia-Diaz, & C. Olaya (Eds.), Social systems engineering: the design of complexity (133-156). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118974414.ch7

• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 27, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 4, 2018
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 133-156
• Book Title: Social systems engineering: the design of complexity
• ISBN: 9781118974452
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118974414.ch7
• Keywords: Agent based modelling; social simulation; social systems engineering; software engineering; multidisciplinary team; peacebuilding; South Sudan
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/887715
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118974414.ch7/summary