{"id":192,"date":"2020-02-25T20:34:30","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T20:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lancaster.ac.uk\/stor-i-student-sites\/hamish-thorburn\/?p=192"},"modified":"2021-11-08T10:27:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T10:27:36","slug":"60-second-stats-agent-based-simulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lancaster.ac.uk\/stor-i-student-sites\/hamish-thorburn\/2020\/02\/25\/60-second-stats-agent-based-simulation\/","title":{"rendered":"60 second stats – Agent-Based Simulation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I thought I’d try something different today, and instead of the regular post, I thought I’d try and do a bite-sized summary of a topic. To that end, please enjoy the first installment of 60 second stats!<\/strong> I can’t install a clock in the post, but if you’re really keen, time yourself to see if I’ve done a good job. Today’s topic will be the area of Agent-Based Simulation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

….GO!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Agent-Based Simulation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Agent-based simulation is any computer simulation in which “agents” interact with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
No, not like that.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The agents can be simulated cells in a biological system, or animals in nature, or even people. You then set your simulation running to see how the agents interact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I make an agent-based simulation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Basically, an agent-based simulation needs 3 elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Agents<\/li>
  2. Relationships\/interactions between the agents<\/li>
  3. An environment the agents exist in<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    These will often be determined by either the structure of the simulation, or by parameters<\/em> inputted by the user at the start of the simulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Are there any examples of this?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Yes! To pick just a couple of the countless examples, agent based simulation has been used to model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n