scholarly journals Centurions in the Roman Legion: Computer Simulation and Complex Systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Rubio-Campillo ◽  
Pau Valdés Matías ◽  
Eduard Ble
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
First Line ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Formal Framework ◽  
Computer Simulation Technique

The role of centurions in Roman warfare has never been decisively established. Historical sources suggest that centurions exerted an influence on the performance of the Roman battle line that was highly disproportionate to their numbers, as well as to their particular actions. However, the lack of a formal framework of Roman tactics does not allow this proposition to be tested. The results obtained from an agent-based model (abm) of Roman warfare, a computer-simulation technique, however, suggest that battle formations benefited greatly from the presence of even a small percentage of psychologically resilient soldiers, especially along the first line, even if these individuals displayed no more than average levels of skill and aggression. Hence, the model’s simulated patterns of Roman warfare indicate that the multiple roles performed by the centurions as described in the sources were not distinguished so much by tactics as by experience and imperviousness to the stress of combat.

scholarly journals Centurions in the Roman Legion: Computer Simulation and Complex Systems

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Rubio-Campillo ◽  
Eduard Ble Gimeno ◽  
Pau Valdés Matías
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Virtual Laboratory ◽  
First Line ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Past ◽  
Descriptive Models ◽  
Number Of Authors

The Centurion was a key figure of Roman warfare over a span of several centuries. However, their real role in battle is still a matter of discussion. Historical sources suggest that their impact in the efficiency of the Roman battle line was highly disproportionate to their individual actions, considering their low numbers. In the past decades a number of authors have proposed different descriptive models to explain their relevance, highlighting factors such as an improvement on unit cohesion or high levels of aggressiveness, which made them lead the charges against the enemy. However, the lack of a quantitative framework does not allow to compare and test these working hypotheses.This paper suggests an innovative methodological approach to explore the problem, based on computer simulation. An Agent-Based Model of roman legions is used as a virtual laboratory, where different hypotheses are tested under varying scenarios. Results suggest that the resilience of formations to combat stress increase exponentially if they contain just a small percentage of homogeneously distributed warriors with higher psychological resistance. Additionally, the model also shows how the lethality of the entire formation is reinforced when this selected group is located at the first line of the formation, even if individually they are not more aggressive or skilled than the average.The interpretation of the simulated patterns in terms of Roman warfare suggest that the multiple roles of the centurions observed in the sources were not caused by changes in tactics or values, but can be strictly explained by an increase in their experience and overall combat performance.

scholarly journals Exploring the effectiveness of a COVID-19 contact tracing app using an agent-based model

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonatan Almagor ◽  
Stefano Picascia
Keyword(s):  
High Rate ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Behavioural Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
User Rate

AbstractA contact-tracing strategy has been deemed necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 following the relaxation of lockdown measures. Using an agent-based model, we explore one of the technology-based strategies proposed, a contact-tracing smartphone app. The model simulates the spread of COVID-19 in a population of agents on an urban scale. Agents are heterogeneous in their characteristics and are linked in a multi-layered network representing the social structure—including households, friendships, employment and schools. We explore the interplay of various adoption rates of the contact-tracing app, different levels of testing capacity, and behavioural factors to assess the impact on the epidemic. Results suggest that a contact tracing app can contribute substantially to reducing infection rates in the population when accompanied by a sufficient testing capacity or when the testing policy prioritises symptomatic cases. As user rate increases, prevalence of infection decreases. With that, when symptomatic cases are not prioritised for testing, a high rate of app users can generate an extensive increase in the demand for testing, which, if not met with adequate supply, may render the app counterproductive. This points to the crucial role of an efficient testing policy and the necessity to upscale testing capacity.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Evacuation Capacity of Parallel Double Running Stairs in Different Merging Form Based on Simulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia-zhong Zheng ◽  
Xue-ling Xie ◽  
Dan Tian ◽  
Jian-lan Zhou ◽  
Ming Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Pedestrian Flow ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Evacuation Time ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Evacuation Model ◽  
Merging Behavior

In order to analyze the evacuation capacity of parallel double running stairs, a dozen stairs merging forms are set by investigation and statistics, and the improved agent-based evacuation model that considers the merging behavior is used to simulate the process of merging and evacuation in the stairs. The stairs evacuation capacity is related to the evacuation time and the robustness of stairs, and the evacuation time can be calculated by using the improved agent-based model based on computer simulation. The robustness of each merging form can be obtained according to the fluctuation degree of evacuation time under the different pedestrian flow. The evaluation model of stairs evacuation capacity is established by fusing the evacuation time and the robustness of stairs. Combined with the specific example to calculate the evacuation capacity of each stairs form, it is found that every merging form has different evacuation time and different robustness, and the evacuation time has not positive correlation with the robustness for the same form stairs. Meanwhile, the evacuation capacity of stairs is not related to the number of the floor entrances. Finally, the results show that the evacuation capacity of stairs is optimal when the floor entrances are close to out stairs in parallel double running stairs and suitable to the case where pedestrian flow and the change of pedestrian flow are large.

Endogenous Uncertainty and the Dynamics of Constraints

2019 ◽  
pp. 246-260
Author(s):  
Paul Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Utility Maximization ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Fitness Landscape ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Endogenous Uncertainty ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Special Case

An agent- based model of social dynamics is introduced using a deformable fitness landscape, and it is shown that in certain clearly specifiable situations, strategies that are different from utility maximization outperform utility maximizers. Simulation results are presented and intuitive interpretations of the results provided. The situations considered occur when individuals' actions affect the outcomes for other agents and endogenous effects are dominant. The Tragedy of the Commons is merely a special case of this. Arguments are given that constraints are to be encouraged in some circumstances. The appropriate role of constraints in various types of society is assessed and their use justified in identifiable types of situations.

An Agent-Based Model of Insurance and Protection Decisions on IT Systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Juan Luis Santos
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Theoretical Approach ◽  
Information Systems Security ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Security Vulnerabilities ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Systems Security ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Game Theoretical Approach

This paper discusses the key role of incentives in information systems security. Vulnerabilities can be reduced, and even removed, if individual motivations are taken into account in the process of protection and insurance design. The article first discusses the importance of externalities, free-riding behavior, uncertainty and the incentives mismatch between individuals and organizations involved in information systems security. Previous works perform this study using a game theoretical approach but the paper shows that an agent-based model is capable of including the heterogeneity and interrelations among individuals, not focusing on the reached equilibrium but on the dynamics prior to its emergence.

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