Dynamic simulation of action at operations level

Abstract

The attempt of using lumped or agent-based simulation models to support operations management in production systems puts action modelling to the fore. To fill the gap of classical decision-support systems ignoring human agents' practices, a modelling framework of action at operations level is proposed. This framework aims at answering two questions: How to represent action? How to represent the management of action? Every action (i.e., what is actually done by an agent) is represented by a binary function of time governed by events detected upon processes of various kinds: artefacts (clocks or schedules), external processes occurring in the environment, other actions. In turn, every action exerts its effect on target processes. This modelling framework allows one to simulate the interpretation of ongoing actions by using temporal or propositional logics and operations management behaviors through plan specification and execution, action composition, and resource allocation to concurrent actions. It enables complex activity systems to be represented and management options to be tested by simulation. These capacities are illustrated on the example of a farming system. The main benefits and issues raised by this dynamical system approach close to the 'situated' (vs. 'planned') action paradigm are discussed in the light of related works in Artificial intelligence. Future directions of research are drawn, namely that of how to scale up this lower-level representation of action to the higher-level representation of agents endowed with skills relevant at the level of the individual (e.g., anticipation).

L'abandon des tours d'eau et ses conséquences opérationnelles sur les systèmes collectifs d'irrigation. Une approche multi-agents situationnelle appliquée à un canal gravitaire de Moyenne Durance (France)

“…Précédemment, les travaux de Guerrin (2009) ont porté sur la modélisation des actions situées dans les systèmes agricoles en adoptant une approche de dynamique des systèmes, sans tenir compte de la dimension spatiale. Les premières mentions d'affordances dans les modèles à base d'agents se trouvent dans Cornwell et al (2003) et Raubal (2001 les opérateurs sont des entités qui sont source d'interaction avec un objet passif, car ils peuvent mener des actions ; les objets passifs sont des entités qui sont la cible d'une interaction avec un opérateur, qui est nécessaire pour réaliser une action.…”

Multi-level analysis of nutrient cycling within agro-sylvo-pastoral landscapes in West Africa using an agent-based model

“…Household actions. In the model, daily household actions are performed based on the local interactions between households, livestock herds and their environment (Guerrin, 2009;Vayssières et al, 2007). The model used general guide rules, such as priority fertilization of home fields, livestock paddocking on the owner's plot, etc.…”

Combining individual and collective management of animal manure to reduce environmental impacts on a territory scale

“…Several simulation models to assess management strategies of livestock wastes on a farm or territory scale have been devised (Guerrin and Paillat, 2003). These models are based on an 'Action-Flow-Stock' ontology, in which elementary production units are represented by material stocks, with inflows and outflows being controlled by farmers' actions (Guerrin, 2009). Agricultural system functioning is thus seen as the interaction between natural biophysical processes and man-controlled workable processes.…”

“…Agricultural system functioning is thus seen as the interaction between natural biophysical processes and man-controlled workable processes. While developing the side of representing human activities in agricultural systems (Guerrin, 2009), assessing the environmental impacts of simulated management strategies is also performed. Although some output variables of these models can account for some of the impacts, provided sub-models exist, this approach appeared limited to account completely for both local and global environmental impacts.…”