SIMULATING RECREATIONAL BEHAVIOUR – ON AGENTS AND ENVIRONMENT

WORKSHOP

CONVENERS:

Hans Skov-Petersen
(hsp@kvl.dk) 		Randy Gimblett
(gimblett@ag.arizona.edu)) 		Muhar Andreas
(andreas.muhar@boku.ac.at)
Senior Researcher
Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
Frederiksberg, Denmark
Fon: +45 35 28 18 16 		Professor
School of Renewable Natural Resources
Advanced Resource Technology Group, The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Fon: +1 (520) 621-6360 		Ao. Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. nat. techn.
Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and
Conservation Planning
Peter Jordan-Strasse 82
A-1190 Wien, Austria
Fon: 01/47654-7202

SYMPOSIA ABSTRACT:

Spatial agent-based models (ABMs) are an almost de facto standard for modelling individual human behaviour. This includes micro simulation of recreational behaviour. Whereas numerous conferences have presented a long range of examples of ABM application, situations where more fundamental, generic or theoretic issues have been in focus are less abundant. Accordingly it is the intention of the proposed workshop to let experienced scientists and researchers make horizontal 'cuts' through the applications they have been part of creation or come across in other ways. References can/must be made to concrete examples, but generic issues related to spatial ABM's and recording/modelling human behaviour will be the core.

  • Handling perception/reaction. Visibility, closeness, aural impact etc.
  • Handling choices and knowledge. Spatial decisions, local perceptions and mental maps.
  • Data collection concepts and methods. Direct (stated) vs. indirect (revealed) techniques. Gate counters vs. interviews etc. Do standard visitor surveys provide sufficient information for modelling spatial behaviour? Can spatial behaviour patterns be derived from visitor characteristics (preferences for activities etc.)?
  • Context: How have the models so far been used? What have been the impacts of their use? Who have been the users? Can special communicative aspects of ABM's be identified? What are the potential development trends (use-scenarios, thematic scenarios etc.)? GIS/ABM interfaces.
  • Model verification. Empery, inaccuracy and sensitivity.
  • Micro vs. macro: How are macro empery used for calibration of individual agents and how individual agent 'behaviour' is used to reveal generalised results.

Programming paradigms: OOP, topology, tempology, distributed computing, Internet applications etc.