scholarly journals An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Emlyn Yang ◽  
Peter Hoffmann ◽  
Jürgen Scheffran ◽  
Sven Rühe ◽  
Jana Fischereit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Prototype Model ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Human Exposure Assessment

The importance of predicting the exposure to environmental hazards is highlighted by issues like global climate change, public health problems caused by environment stresses, and property damages and depreciations. Several approaches have been used to assess potential exposure and achieve optimal results under various conditions, for example, for different scales, groups of people, or certain points in time. Micro-simulation tools are becoming increasingly important in human exposure assessment, where each person is simulated individually and continuously. This paper describes an agent-based model (ABM) framework that can dynamically simulate human exposure levels, along with their daily activities, in urban areas that are characterized by environmental stresses such as air pollution and heat stress. Within the framework, decision making processes can be included for each individual based on rule-based behavior to achieve goals under changing environmental conditions. The ideas described in this paper are implemented in a free and open source NetLogo platform. A simplified modeling scenario of the ABM framework in Hamburg, Germany, further demonstrates its utility in various urban environments and individual activity patterns, and portability to other models, programs and frameworks. The prototype model can potentially be extended to support environmental incidence management by exploring the daily routines of different groups of citizens and compare the effectiveness of different strategies. Further research is needed to fully develop an operational version of the model.

scholarly journals An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas

Urban Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Yang ◽  
Peter Hoffmann ◽  
Jürgen Scheffran ◽  
Sven Rühe ◽  
Jana Fischereit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Prototype Model ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Several approaches have been used to assess potential human exposure to environmental stresses and achieve optimal results under various conditions, such as for example, for different scales, groups of people, or points in time. A thorough literature review in this paper identifies the research gap regarding modeling approaches for assessing human exposure to environment stressors, and it indicates that microsimulation tools are becoming increasingly important in human exposure assessments of urban environments, in which each person is simulated individually and continuously. The paper further describes an agent-based model (ABM) framework that can dynamically simulate human exposure levels, along with their daily activities, in urban areas that are characterized by environmental stresses such as air pollution and heat stress. Within the framework, decision-making processes can be included for each individual based on rule-based behavior in order to achieve goals under changing environmental conditions. The ideas described in this paper are implemented in a free and open source NetLogo platform. A basic modeling scenario of the ABM framework in Hamburg, Germany, demonstrates its utility in various urban environments and individual activity patterns, as well as its portability to other models, programs, and frameworks. The prototype model can potentially be extended to support environmental incidence management through exploring the daily routines of different groups of citizens, and comparing the effectiveness of different strategies. Further research is needed to fully develop an operational version of the model.

scholarly journals An Eco-Friendly Multimodal Route Guidance System for Urban Areas Using Multi-Agent Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2057
Author(s):  
Abdallah Namoun ◽  
Ali Tufail ◽  
Nikolay Mehandjiev ◽  
Ahmed Alrehaili ◽  
Javad Akhlaghinia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Guidance System ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Flow Density ◽  
Route Guidance ◽  
Agent Based

The use and coordination of multiple modes of travel efficiently, although beneficial, remains an overarching challenge for urban cities. This paper implements a distributed architecture of an eco-friendly transport guidance system by employing the agent-based paradigm. The paradigm uses software agents to model and represent the complex transport infrastructure of urban environments, including roads, buses, trolleybuses, metros, trams, bicycles, and walking. The system exploits live traffic data (e.g., traffic flow, density, and CO2 emissions) collected from multiple data sources (e.g., road sensors and SCOOT) to provide multimodal route recommendations for travelers through a dedicated application. Moreover, the proposed system empowers the transport management authorities to monitor the traffic flow and conditions of a city in real-time through a dedicated web visualization. We exhibit the advantages of using different types of agents to represent the versatile nature of transport networks and realize the concept of smart transportation. Commuters are supplied with multimodal routes that endeavor to reduce travel times and transport carbon footprint. A technical simulation was executed using various parameters to demonstrate the scalability of our multimodal traffic management architecture. Subsequently, two real user trials were carried out in Nottingham (United Kingdom) and Sofia (Bulgaria) to show the practicality and ease of use of our multimodal travel information system in providing eco-friendly route guidance. Our validation results demonstrate the effectiveness of personalized multimodal route guidance in inducing a positive travel behavior change and the ability of the agent-based route planning system to scale to satisfy the requirements of traffic infrastructure in diverse urban environments.

scholarly journals Adaptations of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to urban environments in Sydney, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Sydney Australia ◽  
Site Types

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Conservation Biology as it Relates to Urban Environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Noll ◽  
Michael Goldsby
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Conservation Biology ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Urban Contexts

Climate change continues to have recognizable impacts across the globe, as weather patterns shift and impacts accumulate and intensify. In this wider context, urban areas face significant challenges as they attempt to mitigate dynamic changes at the local level — changes such as those caused by intensifying weather events, the disruption of critical supplies, and the deterioration of local ecosystems. One field that could help urban areas address these challenges is conservation biology. However, this paper presents the argument that work in urban contexts may be especially difficult for conservation biologists. In light of current climate change predictions, conservation biology may need to abandon some of its core values in favor of commitments guiding urban ecology. More broadly, this essay aims to reconcile the goals of restoration and conservation, by reconceptualizing what an ecosystem is, in the context of a world threatened by global climate change.

scholarly journals Modeling framework for human exposure assessment

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (S1) ◽  
pp. S81-S89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Jayjock ◽  
Christine F Chaisson ◽  
Susan Arnold ◽  
Elizabeth J Dederick
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Human Exposure Assessment

Agent-based Modeling of Human Exposure to Urban Environmental Stressors – A Docking Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Hokamp ◽  
Sven Rühe ◽  
Jürgen Scheffran
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Docking Study ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Agent Based

<p>The goal of environmental exposure modelling is to link fundamental human activities with stress via the environment. Stress is here defined as environmental conditions negatively affecting human health and well-being. Especially in urban areas, humans can be exposed to multiple stressors such as air pollution, noise (e.g. traffic), and heat. The importance of being able to predict the exposure level in urban areas is increasing due to ongoing urbanization and global climate change. For instance, in Germany annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have been reduced by 28% from 1990 to 2014 but contributions by the transport sector have been quite stable (from 0.163 GtCO2Equivalents in 1990 to 0.160 GtCO2Equivalents in 2014 (Umweltbundesamt, 2016). Yang et al. (2018) provides a stylized agent-based model of human exposure to environmental stressors (heat, rain, NO2) for Hamburg, Germany. Within this ABM, the changing exposure to environmental stressors is analyzed for citizens as a function of time and location. The population is classified into different archetypes; they range from young, single students to families with children to old, rich and single persons. While their choice of transportation is a function of exposure, commuting time and costs, each agent has different preferences and different rates to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The agents are moving in multiple layers of housing (e.g. residential buildings) and infrastructure (e.g. streets, subway). Depending on the agent types, bike, car or public transport is chosen as the preferred mean of transport. However, Yang et al. (2018) consider stylized agent-based dynamics without any interaction among the agents. We provide a multi-agent docking study of human exposure to environmental stressors implemented in Netlogo and find distributional and relational equivalence (Axtell et al., 1996, Hokamp et al. 2018) to Yang et al. (2018). To put it differently, we analyze interacting individual heterogeneous agents in an actual urban environment. Results give information about the mean of transportation with the lowest exposure and how very low costs for public transport affect choices of transportation and so the road traffic. Further, the results may be used by policy makers and citizens (e.g. via mobile devices using an app) to improve environmental quality of life.</p><p><br>References</p><p>Axtell, R., Axelrod, R., Epstein, J.M., and Cohen, M.D. (1996) Aligning simulation models: a case study and results. Computational & Mathematical Organization Theory, 1 (2), 123–141.</p><p>Hokamp, S., Gulyas, L., Koehler, M. and Wijesinghe, S. (2018), Agent-based Modelling and Tax Evasion: Theory and Application, 3-35, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.</p><p>Umweltbundesamt (2014) Submission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol 2016 – National Inventory Report for the German Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2014.</p><p>Yang, L. E., Hoffmann, P., Scheffran, J. , Rühe, S. , Fischereit, J. and Gasser, I. (2018), An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas, Urban Science, 2, 36.</p>

scholarly journals Data Driven Approaches for Sustainable Development of E-Mobility in Urban Areas

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3949
Author(s):  
Marialisa Nigro ◽  
Marina Ferrara ◽  
Rosita De Vincentis ◽  
Carlo Liberto ◽  
Gaetano Valenti
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
National Agency ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Energy And Environment ◽  
The City

This study focuses on a modeling framework to support mobility planners and energy providers in the sustainable development of electric mobility in urban areas. Specifically, models are provided to simulate measures for the optimal management of energy demand and thoughtful planning of charging infrastructures in order to avoid congestion on the power grid. The measures, and consequently the models, are classified according to short-term initiatives based on multimodality between electric vehicles and public transport (Park and Ride), as well as medium to long-term initiatives based on the development of an energy-oriented land use of the city. All the models are data-driven, and different sets of floating car data available for the city of Rome (Italy) have been exploited for this aim. The models are currently being implemented in an agent-based simulator for electric urban mobility adopted by the National Agency for Energy and Environment in Italy (ENEA).

Diversity of organisms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip James
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
The Common ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Diversity Of Life

The focus of this chapter is an examination of the diversity of living organisms found within urban environments, both inside and outside buildings. The discussion commences with prions and viruses before moving on to consider micro-organisms, plants, and animals. Prions and viruses cause disease in plants and animals, including humans. Micro-organisms are ubiquitous and are found in great numbers throughout urban environments. New technologies are providing new insights into their diversity. Plants may be found inside buildings as well as in gardens and other green spaces. The final sections of the chapter offer a discussion of the diversity of animals that live in urban areas for part or all of their life cycle. Examples of the diversity of life in urban environments are presented throughout, including native and non-native species, those that are benign and deadly, and the common and the rare.

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