Ecosystems as Agent Societies, Landscapes as Multi-Societal Agent Systems

2019 ◽  
pp. 1745-1763
Author(s):  
Antonio Carlos da Rocha Costa

Landscape ecology concerns the analysis, modeling and management of landscapes and their component ecosystems, mostly in view of the effects of the anthropic actions that they may suffer. As such, landscape ecology is well amenable to be supported by agent-based computational tools. In this chapter, we introduce the concept of “multi-societal agent system”, a formal architectural model for distributed multi-agent systems, and we interpret it in ecological terms, to serve as an agent-based theoretical foundation for computer-aided landscape ecology. More specifically, we introduce the “ecosystems as agent societies” and “landscapes as multi-societal agent systems” approaches to ecosystems and landscapes, together with the core elements of the agent-based architectural models that support such approaches. The elements of those architectural models are then used to formally capture the main organizational and functional aspects of ecosystems and landscapes.

Author(s):  
Antonio Carlos da Rocha Costa

Landscape ecology concerns the analysis, modeling and management of landscapes and their component ecosystems, mostly in view of the effects of the anthropic actions that they may suffer. As such, landscape ecology is well amenable to be supported by agent-based computational tools. In this chapter, we introduce the concept of “multi-societal agent system”, a formal architectural model for distributed multi-agent systems, and we interpret it in ecological terms, to serve as an agent-based theoretical foundation for computer-aided landscape ecology. More specifically, we introduce the “ecosystems as agent societies” and “landscapes as multi-societal agent systems” approaches to ecosystems and landscapes, together with the core elements of the agent-based architectural models that support such approaches. The elements of those architectural models are then used to formally capture the main organizational and functional aspects of ecosystems and landscapes.


Author(s):  
Ilias Sakellariou ◽  
Petros Kefalas ◽  
Ioanna Stamatopoulou

In the context of an Agent and Multi-Agent Systems course, exposing students to problems and issues related to agent-based programming allows them to understand at a deeper level the otherwise theoretical aspects involved in the design of a multi-agent system (MAS). Indeed, educators have reported a variety of environments and techniques they use in order to increase active learning. The authors argue that NetLogo presents an excellent platform for the task, since it provides, among other interesting features, a small learning curve and an easy to setup visualization environment. This chapter records their experience in teaching a MAS course, using NetLogo as the vehicle for practical coursework. In addition, two extra NetLogo libraries that were provided to students are described, one for BDI-like agents (Belief-Desire-Intention, i.e. goal-oriented agents) and one for ACL-like (Agent Communication Language) communication, which were specifically developed for allowing students to implement more complex agent societies than the original NetLogo platform allowed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Husáková

Abstract Complex systems are characterised by a huge amount of components, which are highly linked with each other. Tourism is one of the examples of complex systems collecting various activities leading to the enrichment of travellers in the view of receiving new experiences and increasing economic prosperity of specific destinations. The complex systems can be investigated with various bottom-up and top-down approaches. The multi-agent-based modelling is the bottom-up approach that is focused on the representation of individual entities for the exploration of possible interactions among them and their effects on surrounding environments. These systems are able to integrate knowledge of socio-cultural, economic, physical, biological or environmental systems for in-silico models development, which can be used for experimentation with a system. The main aim of the presented text is to introduce links between tourism, complexity and to advocate usefulness of the multi-agent-based systems for the exploration of tourism and its sustainability. The evaluation of suitability of the multi-agent systems in tourism is based on the investigation of fundamental characteristics of these two systems and on the review of specific applications of the multi-agent systems in sustainable tourism.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
SARVAPALI D. RAMCHURN ◽  
DONG HUYNH ◽  
NICHOLAS R. JENNINGS

Trust is a fundamental concern in large-scale open distributed systems. It lies at the core of all interactions between the entities that have to operate in such uncertain and constantly changing environments. Given this complexity, these components, and the ensuing system, are increasingly being conceptualised, designed, and built using agent-based techniques and, to this end, this paper examines the specific role of trust in multi-agent systems. In particular, we survey the state of the art and provide an account of the main directions along which research efforts are being focused. In so doing, we critically evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the main models that have been proposed and show how, fundamentally, they all seek to minimise the uncertainty in interactions. Finally, we outline the areas that require further research in order to develop a comprehensive treatment of trust in complex computational settings.


Author(s):  
Federico Bergenti ◽  
Enrico Franchi ◽  
Agostino Poggi

In this chapter, the authors describe the relationships between multi-agent systems, social networks, and the Semantic Web within collaborative work; they also review how the integration of multi-agent systems and Semantic Web technologies and techniques can be used to enhance social networks at all scales. The chapter first provides a review of relevant work on the application of agent-based models and abstractions to the key ingredients of our work: collaborative systems, the Semantic Web, and social networks. Then, the chapter discusses the reasons current multi-agent systems and their foreseen evolution might be a fundamental means for the realization of the future Semantic Social Networks. Finally, some conclusions are drawn.


Author(s):  
Yves Wautelet ◽  
Christophe Schinckus ◽  
Manuel Kolp

Information systems are deeply linked to human activities. Unfortunately, development methodologies have been traditionally inspired by programming concepts and not by organizational and human ones. This leads to ontological and semantic gaps between the systems and their environments. The adoption of agent orientation and multi-agent systems (MAS) helps to reduce these gaps by offering modeling tools based on organizational concepts (actors, agents, goals, objectives, responsibilities, social dependencies, etc.) as fundamentals to conceive systems through all the development process. Moreover, software development is becoming increasingly complex. Stakeholders' expectations are growing higher while the development agendas have to be as short as possible. Project managers, business analysts, and software developers need adequate processes and models to specify the organizational context, capture requirements, and build efficient and flexible systems.


Author(s):  
Robert E. Smith ◽  
Claudio Bonacina

In the multi-agent system (MAS) context, the theories and practices of evolutionary computation (EC) have new implications, particularly with regard to engineering and shaping system behaviors. Thus, it is important that we consider the embodiment of EC in “real” agents, that is, agents that involve the real restrictions of time and space within MASs. In this chapter, we address these issues in three ways. First, we relate the foundations of EC theory to MAS and consider how general interactions among agents fit within this theory. Second, we introduce a platform independent agent system to assure that our EC methods work within the generic, but realistic, constraints of agents. Finally, we introduce an agent-based system of EC objects. Concluding sections discuss implications and future directions.


Author(s):  
N. Sahli ◽  
G. Lenzini

This chapter surveys and discusses relevant works in the intersection among trust, recommendations systems, virtual communities, and agent-based systems. The target of the chapter is showing how, thanks to the use of trust-based solutions and artificial intelligent solutions like that understanding agents-based systems, the traditional recommender systems can improve the quality of their predictions. Moreover, when implemented as open multi-agent systems, trust-based recommender systems can efficiently support users of mobile virtual communities in searching for places, information, and items of interest.


2012 ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agostino Poggi ◽  
Michele Tomaiuolo

Expert systems are successfully applied to a number of domains. Often built on generic rule-based systems, they can also exploit optimized algorithms. On the other side, being based on loosely coupled components and peer to peer infrastructures for asynchronous messaging, multi-agent systems allow code mobility, adaptability, easy of deployment and reconfiguration, thus fitting distributed and dynamic environments. Also, they have good support for domain specific ontologies, an important feature when modelling human experts’ knowledge. The possibility of obtaining the best features of both technologies is concretely demonstrated by the integration of JBoss Rules, a rule engine efficiently implementing the Rete-OO algorithm, into JADE, a FIPA-compliant multi-agent system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document