Coupling GIS and multi-agent simulation -Towards infrastructure for realistic simulation

Abstract

Based on the agent paradigm highly realistic simulation models can be formulated. However, the richness of the environment and its spatial representation are a basic ingredient for such models that cannot be easily modelled with the simple spatial representations usually used in Multi-Agent Simulation. An interesting solution is coupling a Multi-Agent Simulation tool and a geographical information system. Based on such a coupling existing map data can be used for realistic Multi-Agent Simulations. In this contribution we are presenting several ways of coupling Multi-Agent Simulators and geographical information systems. Several important aspects are tackled, like correspondence between agents and their shape as well as possible perceptions and actions. The concepts are exemplified in a coupling between SeSAm and Arcview and demonstrated using a simple traffic simulation. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.