Modelled domestic water demand 2: The deephousehold decision model

Abstract

This section presents the DeepHousehold decision model of domestic water demand, a multi-agent model in which the actors decision processes are described explicitly. As such it replaces the shallow Household model. The aggregation of actors to five types according to a lifestyle classification is described. Lifestyles pool groups of individuals that have similar values, socioeconomic status, behaviours and common aesthetic preferences. The lifestyle classification used in this model also provides geo-referenced relative quantities of population for each lifestyle type. Thus, there are five actors for each inhabited proxel in the catchment (N=9,115), giving a total of 9,115*5=45,575 actors. The characteristics of the modelled actors together with their preferences, sensitivity to external events and others are given. Finally, the range of possible applications and types of analyses with the model are depicted, including the definition of test regions, singling out specific water uses, or the behaviour of lifestyle groups.