The complexities of agent-based modeling output analysis

The proliferation of agent-based models (ABMs) in recent decades has motivated model practitioners to improve the transparency, replicability, and trust in results derived from ABMs. The complexity of ABMs has risen in stride with advances in computing power and resources, resulting in larger models with complex interactions and learning and whose outputs are often high-dimensional and require sophisticated analytical approaches. Similarly, the increasing use of data and dynamics in ABMs has further enhanced the complexity of their outputs. In this article, we offer an overview of the state-of-the-art approaches in analyzing and reporting ABM outputs highlighting challenges and outstanding issues. In particular, we examine issues surrounding variance stability (in connection with determination of appropriate number of runs and hypothesis testing), sensitivity analysis, spatio-temporal analysis, visualization, and effective communication of all these to non-technical audiences, such as various stakeholders.

Subjects

Agent-based modeling

Methodologies

Sensitivity analysis

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity

Statistical test

Visualization

DDC Class

330: Wirtschaft

More Funding Information

This material is based upon work supported by NWO DID MIRACLE (640-006-012), NWO VENI grant (451-11-033), and EU FP7 COMPLEX (308601).

Lizenz

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Name

4-1.pdf

Size

1.03 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Options

The complexities of agent-based modeling output analysis