Complex adaptive system theory,agent-based modeling,and simulation in dominant technology formation

Dominant technology formation is the key for the hightech industry to“cross the chasm”and gain an established foothold in the market(and hence disrupt the regime).Therefore,a stimulus-response model is proposed to investigate the dominant technology by exploring its formation process and mechanism.Specifically,based on complex adaptive system theory and the basic stimulus-response model,we use a combination of agent-based modeling and system dynamics modeling to capture the interactions between dominant technology and the socio-technical landscape.The results indicate the following:(i)The dynamic interaction is“stimulus-reaction-selection”,which promotes the dominant technology’s formation.(ii)The dominant technology’s formation can be described as a dynamic process in which the adaptation intensity of technology standards increases continuously until it becomes the leading technology under the dual action of internal and external mechanisms.(iii)The dominant technology’s formation in the high-tech industry is influenced by learning ability,the number of adopting users and adaptability.Therein,a“critical scale”of learning ability exists to promote the formation of leading technology:a large number of adopting users can promote the dominant technology’s formation by influencing the adaptive response of technology standards to the socio-technical landscape and the choice of technology standards by the socio-technical landscape.There is a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold for the role of adaptability in the dominant technology’s formation.(iv)The socio-technical landscape can promote the leading technology’s shaping in the high-tech industry,and different elements have different effects.This study promotes research on the formation mechanism of dominant technology in the high-tech industry,presents new perspectives and methods for researchers,and provides essential enlightenment for managers to formulate technology strategies.

Simulation of game analysis based on an agent-based artificial stock market re-examined

This work re-examined the simulation result of game analysis (Joshi et al., 2000) based on an agent-based model, Santa Fe Institute Artificial Stock Market. Allowing for recent research work on this artificial model, this paper’s modified game simulations found that the dividend amplitude parameter is a crucial factor and that the original conclusion still holds in a not long period, but only when the dividend amplitude is large enough. Our explanation of this result is that the dividend amplitude pa- rameter is a measurement of market uncertainty. The greater the uncertainty, the greater the price volatility, and so is the risk of investing in the stock market. The greater the risk, the greater the advantage of including technical rules.

An agent-based simulation with NetLogo platform to evaluate forward osmosis process(PRO Mode)

Forward osmosis(FO), as an emerging technology, is influenced by different factors such as operating conditions,module characteristics, and membrane properties. The general aim of this study was to develop a suitable(flexible,comprehensive, and convenient to use) computational tool which is able to simulate osmosis through an asymmetric membrane oriented in pressure retarded osmosis(PRO) mode in a wide variety of scenarios. For this purpose, an agent-based model was created in NetLogo platform, which is an easy-to-use application environment with graphical visualization abilities and well suited for modeling a complex system evolving over time. The simulation results were validated with empirical data obtained from literature and a great agreement was observed. The effect of various parameters on process performance was investigated in terms of temperature,cross-flow velocity, length of the module, pure water permeability coefficient, and structural parameter of the membrane. Results demonstrated that the increase in all parameters, except structural parameter of the membrane and the length of module led to the increase of average water flux. Moreover, nine different draw solutes were selected in order to assess the influence of net bulk osmotic pressure difference between the draw solution(DS) and feed solution(FS)(known as the driving force of FO process) on water flux. Based on the findings of this paper, the performance of FO process(PRO mode) can be efficiently evaluated using the NetL ogo platform.

Emulating a System Dynamics Model with Agent-Based Models: A Methodological Case Study in Simulation of Diabetes Progression

An agent-based simulation model hierarchy emulating disease states and behaviors critical to progression of diabetes type 2 was designed and implemented in the DEVS framework. This model was built to approximately reproduce some essential findings that were previously reported for a rather complex model of diabetes progression. Our models are translations of basicelements of this previously reported system dynamics model of diabetes. The system dynamics model, which mimics diabetes progression over an aggregated US population, was disaggregated and reconstructed bottom-up at the individual (agent) level. Four levels of model complexity were defined in order to systematically evaluate which parameters are needed to mimic outputs of the system dynamics model. The four estimated models attempted to replicate stock counts representing disease states in the system dynamics model while estimating impacts of an elderliness factor, obesity factor and health-related behavioral parameters. Health-related behavior was modeled as a simple realization of the Theory of Planned Behavior, a joint function of individual attitude and diffusion of social norms that spread over each agent’s social network. Although the most complex agent-based simulation model contained 31 adjustable parameters, all models were considerably less complex than the system dynamics model which required numerous time series inputs to make its predictions. All three elaborations of the baseline model provided significantly improved fits to the output of the system dynamics model, although behavioral factors appeared to contribute more than the elderliness factor. The results illustrate a promising approach to translate complex system dynamics models into agent-based model alternatives that are both conceptually simpler and capable of capturing main effects of complex local agent-agent interactions.

Agent-Based Simulation for Interconnection-Scale Renewable Integration and Demand Response Studies

This paper collects and synthesizes the technical requirements, implementation, and validation methods for quasi-steady agent-based simulations of interconnectionscale models with particular attention to the integration of renewable generation and controllable loads. Approaches for modeling aggregated controllable loads are presented and placed in the same control and economic modeling framework as generation resources for interconnection planning studies. Model performance is examined with system parameters that are typical for an interconnection approximately the size of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council(WECC) and a control area about 1/100 the size of the system. These results are used to demonstrate and validate the methods presented.

Agent-Based Simulation for Analyzing Network Formation with Learning Dynamics

In game theoretic context, it is assumed that the decision maker has the extraordinary skills of reasoning and calculation. This assumption is called ＂perfect rationality＂. A player with perfect rationality can solve complex problems without making mistakes. However, recently, many studies have restricted this rationality or the structure of game. These restrictions are called ＂bounded rationality.＂ The authors also focus on bounded rationality, but with learning dynamics and complex networks. A complex network covers a wide area. Currently, a wide range of studies have not only investigated network formation and the characteristics of a formed network, but also analyzed situations where a network is already provided. In addition, in an analysis using game theory, a prisoners＇ dilemma type game was used to investigate how a change in the network structure would affect the players＇ relationships Therefore, our model employs decision makers with learning dynamics and describes the interaction of decision makers as a network. The purpose of this study is to examine the behavior of the decision maker with learning dynamics and the formation of networks by the interaction of decision makers through an agent-based simulation.

An agent-based model of agricultural land expansion in the mountain forest of Timor Island,Indonesia

The Mutis-Timau Forest Complex,located on Timor Island,Indonesia,is a mountainous tropical forest area that gradually decreases due to deforestation and forest degradation.Previous modelling studies based on patterns indicate that deforestation primarily occurs at lower elevations and near the boundaries of forests and settlements,often associated with shifting cultivation by local farmers.This study adopts a process-based modelling approach,specifically the agent-based model,to simulate land changes,particularly farmers'expansion of agricultural land around the Mutis mountain forest.The underlying concept of this agent-based approach is the interaction between the human and environmental systems.Farmers,representing the human system,interact with the land,which represents the environmental system,through land use decision-making mechanisms.The research was conducted in the Community Forest of the Timor Tengah Utara District,one of the sites within the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex with the highest deforestation rate.Land use change simulations were performed using agent-based modelling from 1999 to 2030,considering the socio-economic conditions of farmers,spatial preferences,land use decisions,and natural transitions.The results revealed that the agricultural area increased by 14%under the Business as Usual scenario and 5%under the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation scenario,compared to the initial agricultural area of 245 hectares.The probability of farmers deciding to extend agricultural activities was positively associated with the number of livestock maintained by farmers and the size of the village area.Conversely,the likelihood of farmers opting for agricultural extensification decreased with an increase in the area of private land and the farmer's age.These findings are crucial for the managers of the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex and other relevant stakeholders,as they aid in arranging actions to combat deforestation,designing proper forest-related policies,and providing support for initiatives such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation programs or further incentive schemes.

Simulation of Crowd Motion Based on Boids Flocking Behavior and Social Force Model

In the process of crowd movement,pedestrians are often affected by their neighbors.In order to describe the consistency of adjacent individuals and collectivity of a group,this paper learns from the rules of the flocking behavior,such as segregation,alignment and cohesion,and proposes a method for crowd motion simulation based on the Boids model and social force model.Firstly,the perception area of individuals is divided into zone of segregation,alignment and cohesion.Secondly,the interactive force among individuals is calculated based upon the zone information,velocity vector and the group information.The interactive force among individuals is the synthesis of three forces:the repulsion force to avoid collisions,the alignment force to keep consistent with the velocity direction,and the attractive force to get close to the members of group.In segregation and alignment areas,the repulsion force and alignment force among pedestrians are limited by visual field factors.Finally,the interactive force among individuals,the driving force of destination and the repulsion force of obstacles work together to drive the behavior of crowd motion.The simulation results show that the proposed method can not only effectively simulate the interactive behavior between adjacent individuals but also the collective behavior of group.

A simulation-based emergency force planning method for social security events

The occurrence of social security events is uncertain, and the distribution characteristics are highly complex due to a variety of external factors, posing challenges to their rapid and effective handling. The scientific and reasonable requirement evaluation of the emergency force to deal with social security events is very urgent. Based on data analysis, this paper uses the neural network, operational research, modelling and simulation to predict and analyze social security events, studies the usage rule of emergency force and deployment algorithm, and conducts simulation experiments to evaluate and compare the different force deployment schemes for selection.

Business Process Analysis and Simulation: The Contact Center of a Public Health and Social Information Office

This article proposes a framework, called BP-M* which includes: 1) a methodology to analyze, engineer, restructure and implement business processes, and 2) a process model that extends the process diagram with the specification of resources that execute the process activities, allocation policies, schedules, times of activities, management of queues in input to the activities and workloads so that the same model can be simulated by a discrete event simulator. The BP-M* framework has been applied to a real case study, a public Contact Center which provides different typologies of answers to users’ requests. The simulation allows to study different system operating scenarios (“What-If” analysis) providing useful information for analysts to evaluate restructuring actions.

Evaluating the flooding level impacts on urban metro networks and travel demand:behavioral analyses,agent-based simulation,and large-scale case study

With urban residents’increasing reliance on metro systems for commuting and other daily activities,extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and flooding impacting the metro system services are becoming increasingly of concern.Plans for such emergency interruptions require a thorough understanding of the potential outcomes on both the system and individual component scales.However,due to the complex dynamics,constraints,and interactions of the elements involved(e.g.,disaster,infrastructure,service operation,and travel behavior),there is still no framework that comprehensively evaluates the system performance across different spatiotemporal scales and is flexible enough to handle increasingly detailed travel behavior,transit service,and disaster information data.Built on an agent-based model(ABM)framework,this study adopts a data-driven ABM simulation approach informed by actual metro operation and travel demand data to investigate the impact of flood-induced station closures on travelers as well as the overall system response.A before-after comparison is conducted where the traveler behaviors in disaster scenarios are obtained from a discrete choice model of alternative stations and routes.A case study of the Shanghai Metro is used to demonstrate the ability of the proposed approach in evaluating the impacts of flood-induced station closures on individual traveler behavior under normal operation and a series of water level rise scenarios of up to 5m.It was found that,when the flood-induced station closures only affect a few river-side stations in the city center,the travelers experience only minor disruptions to their trips due to the availability of unaffected stations nearby as a backup.However,as the water level increases and more stations(mainly in the suburban area)are affected,up to 25%of trips are no longer being fulfilled due to the loss of entrances,exits,or transfer links.The system experiences overall less crowdedness in terms of passenger volume and platform waiting time with a few exceptions of increased passenger load due to concentrations of passenger flows to alternative stations under flooding-induced station closures.The proposed approach can be adapted to other disaster scenarios to reveal the disaster impacts on both aggregated and disaggregated levels and guide the design of more spatio-and temporally-targeted emergency plans for metro systems.

A Novel Collective User Web Behavior Simulation Method

A collective user web behavior simulation is an import means for generating a large-scale user network behavior in a network testbed or cyber range.Existing studies almost focus on individual web behavior analysis and prediction,which cannot simulate human dynamics that widely exist in large-scale users’behaviors.To address these issues,we propose a novel collective user web behavior simulation method,in which an algorithm for constructing a connected virtual social network is proposed,and then a collective user web behavior simulation algorithm is designed on the virtual social network.In the simulation method,a new epidemic information dissemination algorithm based on the SIR model is proposed to drive the user web behavior with Breadth—First Search algorithm on the connected virtual social network.We specially build an experiment environment with 12 servers by using Docker container technology and then perform a wide range of experiments with different user scales to evaluate the method.The experimental results demonstrate that not only the degrees of the social network but also the time intervals of the collective users’web behavior can be well fitted to a power-law distribution and show that our simulation method can well simulate a collective user web behavior.

Microscopic dynamic simulation model for pedestrian at signalized intersection

Pedestrian's road-crossing model is the key part of micro-simulation for mixed traffic at signalized intersection.To reproduce the crossing behavior of pedestrians,the microscopic behaviors of the pedestrians passing through the crosswalk at signalized intersection were analyzed.A pedestrian's decision making model based on gap acceptance theory was proposed.Based on the field data at three typical intersections in Beijing,China,the critical gaps and lags of pedestrians were calibrated.In addition,considering pedestrian's required space,a modification of the social force model that consists of a self-deceleration mechanism prevents a simulated pedestrian from continuously pushing over other pedestrians,making the simulation more realistic.After the simple change,the modified social force model is able to reproduce the fundamental diagram of pedestrian flows for densities less than 3.5 m-2 as reported in the literature.

Simulating the Effect of Social Network Structure on Workflow Efficiency Performance

The effect of social network structure on team performance is difficult to investigate using standard field observational studies. This is because social network structure is an endogeneous variable, in that prior team performance can influence the values of structural measures such as centrality and connectedness. In this work we propose a novel simulation model based on agent-based modeling that allows social network structure to be treated as an exogeneous variable but still be allowed to evolve over time. The simulation model consists of experiments with multiple runs in each experiment. The social network amongst the agents is allowed to evolve between runs based on past performance. However, within each run, the social network is treated as an exogenous variable where it directly affects workflow performance. The simulation model we describe has several inputs and parameters that increase its validity, including a realistic workflow management depiction and real-world cognitive strategies by the agents.

A goal-based approach for modeling and simulation of different types of system-of-systems

A system of systems(SoS)composes a set of independent constituent systems(CSs),where the degree of authority to control the independence of CSs varies,depending on different SoS types.Key researchers describe four SoS types with descending levels of central authority:directed,acknowledged,collaborative and virtual.Although the definitions have been recognized in SoS engineering,what is challenging is the difficulty of translating these definitions into models and simulation environments.Thus,we provide a goal-based method including a mathematical baseline to translate these definitions into more effective agent-based modeling and simulations.First,we construct the theoretical models of CS and SoS.Based on the theoretical models,we analyze the degree of authority influenced by SoS characteristics.Next,we propose a definition of SoS types by quantitatively explaining the degree of authority.Finally,we recognize the differences between acknowledged SoS and collaborative SoS using a migrating waterfowl flock by an agentbased model(ABM)simulation.This paper contributes to the SoS body of knowledge by increasing our understanding of the degree of authority in an SoS,so we may identify suitable SoS types to achieve SoS goals by modeling and simulation.

Simulation Technology of Environmental Impacts by Zero-energy Residential Buildings Based on Emergy Analysis Method

This paper presents a simulation technology of environmental impact for the building. By emergy analysis method,emergy costs of building( or construction engineering) can be calculated in the life cycle. It includes the engineering cost, environmental cost and social cost of building. Through integrating GIS technology with multi-agent technology,life cycle substance and energy metabolism of building( construction engineering) can be simulated and their environmental influence can be dynamically displayed. Based on the case study of entries works‘Sunny Inside'by Xiamen University in 2013 China International Solar Decathlon Competition,we discovered the changing pattern of surrounding environmental impact from waste streams of the zero-energy building and ordinary construction. The simulation results verified and showed the Odum principles of maximum power. This paper provides a new research perspective and integration approach for the environmental impact assessment in building and construction engineering. The result will help decision-making in design and construction engineering scheme.

Agent-Based Modeling: An Application to Natural Resource Management

Computer programs have been categorized as a useful tool to evaluate the complexity of systems. In fact, agent-based modeling (ABM) is considered a new method to model complex systems characterized by the role of independent and interrelating agents. Simulations contribute in estimating and comprehending emerging behaviors that require the development of new regulations for local agents that would make improvements to the system. This paper offers an example of a methodology and a process utilized to develop a simulation model named Befergyonet, an ABM used to conduct computer simulations within a spatio-intertemporal environment. The methodology discussed in this paper is intended solely to stimulate the use of innovative computer programs to simulate complex systems as an approach to represent real world events and may be a methodological guide for readers interested in developing their own ABM.

Carbon Tax and Renewable Energy Diffusion in the Deregulated Texas Electricity Market: An Agent-Based Analysis

In the United States, emission regulations are enacted at a state level;individual states are allowed to define what methods they will use to mitigate their carbon emissions. The consequence of this is especially interesting in the state of Texas where new legislation has created a “deregulated” electricity market in which end-users are capable of choosing their electricity provider and subsequently the type of electricity they wish to consume (generated by fossil fuels or renewable sources). In this paper we analyze the effects of carbon tax on the development of renewable generation capacity at the utility level while taking into account expected adoption of rooftop PV systems by individual consumers using agent based modeling techniques. Monte Carlo simulations show carbon abatement trends and proffer updated renewable portfolio standards at various levels of likelihood.

Factor analysis and countermeasure simulation on the socio-ecological environment risks during the development of coalbed methane:based on the DEMATEL and FCM models

The socio-ecological environmental problem caused by the development of coalbed methane(CBM)is becoming more serious,so it is very significant for accelerating the development of CBM industrialization to identify the main influential factors of socioecological environmental risks and take effective risk prevention measures.Based on the triangular fuzzy number method,this paper firstly establishes a comprehensive correlation matrix.Then,the affected factors of socio-ecological environmental risks are analyzed by the DEMATEL method during the development of CBM.Then according to the aspects of centrality and causality,the key indicators are determined.Furthermore,the scenario simulation based on the FCM,the steady-state value and the comprehensive importance of key indicators,and the core indicators are selected.Finally,the scenario simulation of risk management countermeasure is done.The results show that:①The index weights are calculated by the triangular fuzzy numbers,and the correlation matrix in DEMATEL is obtained by the weight ratio,which reduces the shortcomings and the subjectivity of traditional DEMATEL method.②The correlation matrix in FCM is established based on the comprehensive correlation matrix in the above improved DEMATEL,which not only makes the FCM model more comprehensive and reduces the difficulty that the FCM correlation matrix is obtained considering the indirect influence relationship between indicators,but also makes up for the disadvantages that DEMATEL excludes during the selection of the core indexes,which are the considerations of the dynamic change of the importance of the indicators.③The rate of forestry and grass coverage,the ratio of investment in prevention and construction,the pollution index of soil Merlot,the reliability of machinery and equipment,the standard evaluation index of major pollution factors of underground water,and the ability of personal risk prevention are the key indicators,in which the rate of forestry and grass coverage,the ratio of investment in prevention and construction,and the reliability of machinery and equipment are the core indicators and are extremely important for the management of socio-ecological environmental risks during the development of coalbed methane.④The results of the scenario simulation of risk management countermeasure show that the core variables affect the socio-ecological environmental risks through such indicators as the degree of production mechanization,the degree of demolition and resettlement,and the ratio of economic loss by the influenced mechanism analysis;the ratio of investment in prevention and construction has the greatest impact on the socio-ecological environment risks in the early stage of CMB development,while the rate of forestry and grass coverage is the most important in the middle and late stages by the influenced result analysis.Therefore,this paper puts forward some corresponding stage suggestions on the prevention and control of socio-ecological environmental risks during the CMB development.In the early stage of CMB development,the ratio of investment in prevention and construction should be increased.In the middle stage,it is very important to reduce the damage of vegetation regions and to improve the reliability of machinery and equipment;in the late stage,the investment in prevention and construction should be increased steadily and the recovery of damaged vegetation areas should be focused on.

Simulation of Old Urban Residential Area Evolution Based on Complex Adaptive System

On the basis of complex adaptive system theory, this paper proposed an agent-based model of old urban residential area, in which, residents and providers are the two adaptive agents. The behaviors of residents and providers in this model are trained with back propagation and simulated with Swarm software based on environment-rules-agents interaction. This model simulates the evolution of old urban residential area and analyzes the relations between the evolution and urban management with the background of Chaozhou city. As a result, the following are obtained ： （ 1 ） Simulation without government intervention indicates the trend of housing ageing, environmental deterioration, economic depression, and social filtering-down in old urban residential area. If the development of old urban residential area is under control of developers in market, whose desire is profit maximization, and factors such as social justice, historic and culture value will be ignored. （2） If the government carries out some policies and measures which will perfectly serve their original aims, simulation reveals that old urban residential area could be adapted to environment and keep sustainable development. This conclusion emphasizes that government must act as initiator and program maker for guiding residents and other providers directly in the development of old urban residential area.