Adding ecosystem function to agent-based land use models

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine issues in the inclusion of simulations of ecosystem functions in agent-based models of land use decision-making. The reasons for incorporating these simulations include local interests in land fertility and global interests in carbon sequestration. Biogeochemical models are needed in order to calculate such fluxes. The Century model is described with particular attention to the land use choices that it can encompass. When Century is applied to a land use problem the combinatorial choices lead to a potentially unmanageable number of simulation runs. Century is also parameter-intensive. Three ways of including Century output in agent-based models, ranging from separately calculated look-up tables to agents running Century within the simulation, are presented. The latter may be most efficient, but it moves the computing costs to where they are most problematic. Concern for computing costs should not be a roadblock.

Mind, the gap in landscape‐evolution modelling

“…For example, the People and Landscape Model (PALM) uses routines from previous models to represent organic matter decomposition (CENTURY) and water and nitrogen (DSSAT) with household agents to examine interactions between biophysical and socio-economic components of a landscape (Matthews, 2006). Yadav et al (2008) also discuss different ways in which the CENTURY model can be used within an agent-based framework in both online and offl ine modes in order to evaluate the ecological impacts of LUCC decision-making.…”

Effects of land markets and land management on ecosystem function: A framework for modelling exurban land-change

“…While contemporary land-change research has improved the coupling of natural and human system models (e.g. Yadav et al, 2008), we go one step further to include land-management practices. By improving our understanding of what drives landowners to perform specific land-management actions as well as how and to what degree land management can alter ecosystem function, we can understand the social, economic, and policy conditions that may lead a property to be a source or sink of carbon.…”

Strategic directions for agent-based modeling: avoiding the YAAWN syndrome

“…More complete hybridity goes beyond this comparison to actually couple ABM to other kinds of models. There have been a number of methodological accomplishments in this arena including ABMs linked to ecosystem models (Polhill, Gimona, & Aspinall, 2011; Yadav, Del Grosso, Parton, & Malanson, 2008), ABMs coupled to metacommunity models (Gimona & Polhill, 2011), and ABMs coupled with emissions models (Bakam, Pajot, & Matthews, 2012; Heckbert, 2011). …”

“…There is definite progress with hybrid models, particularly those that seek to create model ensembles (i.e., linking the model to existing models, such as an ABM of human behavior tied to an established carbon model) and link to complementary approaches like statistical regression (Luus et al, 2013). This work is also focused on leveraging models of ecological of physical systems (Yadav et al, 2008). …”