Individual-based (or ‘agent-based’) models (IBMs, ABMs) are now a popular technique for understanding how the dynamics of complex systems arise from characteristics and behaviours of their individual components and their environment. Agent-based and individual-based modelling have broad application to natural and social sciences, and also offers important advantages for real-world management.
 
This 30-hour course will introduce the principles and practice of agent-based modelling. Participants will learn how to design, implement, and evaluate ABMs that are relevant to their own fields of research and teaching. The course includes introductory instruction in NetLogo, a popular and powerful software platform and programming language specifically for ABMs.

 

Instruction will be led by Professors Volker Grimm and Steve Railsback, leading experts, educators and authors of agent-based modelling theory and practice, and Jacob Kelter, director of the NetLogo Project at Northwestern University. This course will be delivered through a mixture of lectures, programming tutorials and exercises, open discussion, and independent project work.

Instruction on model implementation will use NetLogo, a widely-used, free platform for ABMs. NetLogo provides a programming language with hundreds of ABM-specific commands, graphical user interfaces, and tools for simulation experiments. It works on all major operating systems. Participants will receive a thorough introduction to NetLogo that should allow them to become productive users.

 

All participants need to use their own computer (Windows, Macintosh, or Linux), with the new version 7.0.0 of NetLogo installed.

Participants are strongly encouraged to complete the tutorials that are packaged with NetLogo in advance. (From NetLogo’s Help menu, select “User Manual”; tutorials are in the User Manual menu.)

1.       Railsback SF, Grimm V (2019) Agent-Based and Individual-Based Modeling: A Practical Introduction, 2nd Edition, Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J. (Or the first edition, 2012.)
 
(Strongly recommended) Many lessons, projects and exercises will be used from this textbook. Therefore, it is highly recommended that this book be purchased prior to attending this course. Paper and digital versions are available through the publisher’s website (https://press.princeton.edu/europe), and through on-line booksellers.

2.       Grimm V, Railsback SF (2005) Individual-based Modeling and Ecology, Princeton University Press, Princeton N.J., 428 pp.

 (Optional) This book provides a more comprehensive introduction to individual-based modelling in ecology.
 

 

 

Daily Sessions: 15:00–18:00 (Europe) / 9:00–12:00 (EST)

 

 

 

Monday, October 27
15:00 / 9:00 – Introduction (SR and JK)
15:30 / 9:30 – Lecture: What are models, IBMs, ABMs, and why do we use them? (VG)
16:30 / 10:30 – Break
16:45 / 10:45 – Group Exercise: Introduction to NetLogo (VG)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Tuesday, October 28
15:00 / 9:00 – Group Exercise: Programming a first NetLogo model (SR)
16:00 / 10:00 – Break
16:15 / 10:15 – Group Exercise: From animations to science; BehaviorSpace (SR)
17:15 / 11:15 – Lecture: The ODD Protocol – Why and How (VG)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Wednesday, October 29
15:00 / 9:00 – Lecture: Design Concepts (SR)
15:45 / 9:45 – Lecture & Exercise: Sensing and NetLogo Variables (SR)
16:45 / 10:45 – Break
17:00 / 11:00 – Lecture: Pattern-Oriented Modeling – The Way to Do Agent-Based Science (VG)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Thursday, October 30
15:00 / 9:00 – Group Exercise: Agentsets and Subsetting (SR)
15:45 / 9:45 – Lecture: Testing NetLogo Code (SR)
16:30 / 10:30 – Break
16:45 / 10:45 – Exercise: Testing NetLogo Code (SR)
17:45 / 11:45 – Intro to Independent Projects: Business Investor, Telemarketer, Wild Dog, Breeding Synchrony (SR)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Friday, October 31
15:00 / 9:00 – Lecture: Theory and Adaptive Behavior (SR)
16:00 / 10:00 – Break
16:15 / 10:15 – Lecture & Discussion: Stochasticity, Collectives, Links, NetLogo Breeds (SR)
17:00 / 11:00 – Project Work
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Monday, November 3
15:00 / 9:00 – Lecture: Good Modeling Practice and TRACE – Transparent and Comprehensive Models (VG)
16:00 / 10:00 – Project Work
17:30 / 11:30 – Lecture: Independent Testing of Submodels (SR)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Tuesday, November 4
15:00 / 9:00 – Lecture: Pattern-Oriented Modeling – The Jamaica Coffee Farm Example (SR)
16:00 / 10:00 – Project Work: Preparation for Phase 1 Presentations
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Wednesday, November 5
15:00 / 9:00 – Phase 1 Project Presentations
17:00 / 11:00 – Break
17:15 / 11:15 – Guest Lecture & Discussion: Empirical Science and ABMs (Bret Harvey, US Forest Service) (BH)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Thursday, November 6
15:00 / 9:00 – Lecture: Analyzing and Doing Science with IBMs – Including "Escape from Model Land" (VG)
16:00 / 10:00 – Project Work: Final Presentation Preparation
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

Friday, November 7
15:00 / 9:00 – Final Project Presentations (VG)
17:00 / 11:00 – Break
17:15 / 11:15 – Grand Finale: NetLogo Tools & Gadgets, Keeping Momentum, Instructor Support, Course Feedback (SR, VG and JK)
18:00 / 12:00 – End

 

 

 

 

Instructors:
SR – Prof. Steve Railsback
VG – Prof. Volker Grimm 

JK – Dr. Jacob Kelter
BH – Bret Harvey, US Forest Service (Guest Lecture)

 

 

 

 

Cancellation Policy:

 

 

 

> 30  days before the start date = 30% cancellation fee

 

< 30 days before the start date= No Refund.

 

 

 

Physalia-courses cannot be held responsible for any travel fees, accommodation or other expenses incurred to you as a result of the cancellation.