Extensive epidemic spreading model based on multi-agent system framework

Abstract

In current epidemic spreading study, continuous system dynamics model and discrete agent model are often regarded as two types of incompatible models. However these two types of models may coexist in large-scale epidemic simulation. A multi-agent based framework for such coexisting is proposed in this paper consisting of location agents with hierarchical structure, participant agents to denote host, pathogen, or medium, and event agent to model the epidemic outbreak, control policy, etc. Transformation algorithm is provided for the communication between locations with different types of epidemic models. Such a framework is illustrated by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak case. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.