Hammer or Tongs: How Best to Build Agent-Based Models?

摘要

Agent-based modeling has been widely applied to solve problems in contexts ranging from exploratory research studies to focused industrial practice. As the application of agent-based modeling has grown, developers have advocated a wide and diverse variety of development techniques. Some of these techniques inform elements of model creation, validation, or use. Others are comprehensive development methodologies. The popularity of agent-based modeling makes it impossible to include every development technique mentioned in the literature. Instead, this paper focuses on providing a representative sample that includes the techniques with the most practical utility along with those that are widely used or have received substantial attention. The sample reviewed in this paper includes techniques advocated specifically for agent-based modeling along with general software development approaches. Due to their importance, verification and validation techniques for agent-based modeling are specially highlighted. The paper concludes with a summary and recommendations on how best to build agent-based models.