Agent-Based Modeling in Humanitarian Operations

Abstract

This chapter explores the use of agent-based modeling (ABM) as a methodology to analyze decision-making in humanitarian operations. We show how the individual decision-making of various stakeholders in humanitarian settings (e.g. non-governmental organizations, military, governmental organizations, United Nations) affects the overall progress of relief work. ABM takes a bottom-up approach to model individual agents with specific characteristics and show how their individual actions and interactions define the overall behavior of the system. This chapter provides researchers with an interesting tool for the analysis of humanitarian operations. It also acts as a guide for practitioners to start thinking about the evaluation of policies that could improve decision-making processes leading to a timely distribution of aid.