Computer practical: agent based modelling

Lecturer: Dr. Gertjan Geerling

Duration: 10.45-15.30

In the computer practical "agent based modelling" you are going to practise the use of agent based models. The aim is that through practicing you understand the theorie of the previous lecture and are able to define a simple agent based model yourself (on paper only). Furthermore, the practical gives you experience of the application of agent based models in modelling diseases and lessons you can learn for the management of the disease outbreaks.

Learning goals

• Students can explain the key concepts of agent based models from the introductory lecture.
• Students can setup their own model on paper by defining agents, agent rules and environments.
• Students have experience with Netlogo as a practical environment to build agent based models.
• Students have experienced and can explain the agents and environments of a simple Malaria model and 2 epidemiological models (Epidem basic and Epidem travel and control).

Literature

• Introductory course of this morning (see pdf on blackboard)
• (for exam:) paper from the introductory course (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/jos.2010.3)
• The manual of Netlogo for reference: https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/docs/
• Description of models of Malaria control and other models in the Netlogo Model Library.

Computer practical

A. Running netlogo

1. In case you are on the university and sit in a terminal room

• Find the folder: \\cursus-srv.science.ru.nl\cursus\NetLogo 5.3.1
• You can copy and paste this link into the windows file browser ("verkenner" in Dutch), see image below.
• Run Netlogo by double clicking the "Netlogo" - application (see also list in file browser below). It takes some time to start.

2. In case you are at home

Download netlogo version 5.3.1 from: http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/oldversions.shtml

Install the file or copy the directory to any directory you want, but remember the location.

B. Practical assignment

The practical assignment will be handed out in print, but also can be downloaded through the link at the bottom of this page, see "Manual computer practicum agent based modelling.WHD2016.version 0.3".

You need to open the netlogo manual, see link above. Links are also provided in the computer practical manual.