A generalized rapid development environment for cellular automata based simulations

Abstract

Cellular Automata (CA) are widely applied in variety of fields, and this made generalised simulation environments become increasingly important for the development of CA-based scientific applications. In this paper we discuss the fact that many real phenomena require strong relaxation of classical CA assumptions in order to be adequately modelled, and that brings about limitations of existing modelling and simulation environments, often based on insufficiently generalised CA formulations. These considerations have induced us to develop a modelling environment based on a largely generalised CA formulation. The environment has proven to be particularly suitable for modelling and simulation of spatial urban, territorial and environmentally- oriented phenomena. © Springer-Verlag 2004.