A vector-agent paradigm for dynamic urban modelling

Abstract

In the past, researchers and model developers were restricted by their theoretical knowledge about the city and how it might be simulated as well as constrained by technological limitations. Nevertheless, the simulation environment is now appropriate for the infusion of new ideas into urban modelling. Urban simulation is a relatively unique modelling problem. The urban systems commonly represented in urban models considering different factors (economic, social, environmental …. etc.) and are notoriously difficult to simulate. It is proposed that agents are more flexible than cellular automata at modelling the city, and in turn that vector-based agents are more suitable than cell-based agents at doing the same. Therefore, this paper is intended to review the limitations raised by using cell-based models with an agent simulation system, and introduce a new paradigm for integrating vector-based spatial model with agent system.