Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial and Cognitive Simulation with Multi-agent Systems

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Spatial Information Theory (COSIT 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2205))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The simulation of human behavior in space is an extremely interesting and powerful research method to advance our understanding of human spatial cognition and the interaction of human beings with the environment. Multi-agent systems are an emerging computing paradigm for the construction of such simulations. During the last two years, we have used multiagent simulations for three different investigations of spatial and cognitive questions:

  • use of signage in airports to guide travelers to the gate,

  • communication with maps,

  • linkage between physical reality and the cadastral (legal) system.

In this paper we will report on these efforts. We first discuss the concept of multi-agent systems and explain the special type of multi-agent system used for simulation of cognitive and spatial situations. The following three sections each review one of the three simulations we have constructed. The last section identifies the similarities in these approaches and lists questions we hope to investigate in the future with this method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Benenson, I. and J. Portugali: Internal vs. external spatial information and cultural emergence in a self-organising city. In: A.U. Frank and W. Kuhn (eds.), Spatial Information Theory–A Theoretical Basis for GIS (Int. Conference COSIT’ 95), Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg (1995) 431–441.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bittner, S.: An agent-based model of reality in a cadastre. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Geoinformation, Technical University Vienna, (to appear).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bond, A.H. and L. Gasser: Readings in Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Morgan Kaufmann (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Couclelis, H.: People Manipulate Objects (but Cultivate Fields): Beyond the Raster-Vector Debate in GIS. In: A.U. Frank, I. Campari and U. Formentini (eds.), Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg (1992) 65–77.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Couclelis, H. and N. Gale: Space and Spaces. Geografiske Annaler 68B (1986) 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, E.: Representation of Commonsense Knowledge. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, San Mateo, CA (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Epstein, J.M. and R. Axtell: Growing Artificial Societies. Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C. (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ferber, J.: Multi-Agent Systems. An Introduction to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Addison-Wesley (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Frank, A.U.: Communication with maps: A formalized model. In: C. Freksa, et al. (eds.), Spatial Cognition II (Int. Workshop on Maps and Diagrammatical Representations of the Environment, Hamburg, August 1999), Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg (2000) 80–99.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Frank, A.U.: An object-oriented, formal approach to the design of cadastral systems. In: 7th Int. Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, SDH’ 96, Delft, The Netherlands. IGU (1996) Vol. 1.5A.19–5A.35.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gat, E.: On Three-Layer Architectures. In: D. Kortenkamp et al. (eds.), Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Robots, AAAI Press (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gibson, J.: The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gilbert, D., et al.: The Role of Intelligent Agents in the Information Infrastructure (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Golledge, R. (ed.) Wayfinding Behavior–Cognitive Mapping and Other Spatial Processes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Krek, A.: Simulation method to assess the value of dataset quality for the decision-making process. Ph.D., Dept. of Geoinformation, Technical University Vienna, (in progress).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mark, D., et al.: Cognitive models of geographical space. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 13 (1999) 747–774.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Neisser, U.: Cognition and Reality–Principles and Implications of Cognitive Psychology. Books in Psychology. Freeman, New York (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Norman, D.: The Design of Everyday Things. Doubleday, New York (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  19. O’Hare, G.M.P. and N.R. Jennnings (eds.): Foundations of Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Sixth-Generation Computer Technology Series. John Wiley (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  20. O’Sullivan, D. and M. Haklay: Agent-based models and Individualism: Is the world agent-based? Environment and Planning A 32 (2000) 1409–1425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Peterson, J., et al.: Report on the functional programming language Haskell, Version 1.3 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Portugali, J.: Self-Organization, Cities, Cognitive Maps and Information Systems. In: S.C. Hirtle and A.U. Frank (eds.), Spatial Information Theory–A Theoretical Basis for GIS (Int. Conference COSIT’ 97), Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg (1997) 329–346.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Raubal, M. and M. Egenhofer: Comparing the complexity of wayfinding tasks in built environments. Environment & Planning B 25 (1998) 895–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Raubal, M. and M. Worboys: A Formal Model of the Process of Wayfinding in Built Environments. In: Spatial Information Theory–Cognitive and Computational Foundations of Geographic Information Science (Int. Conference COSIT’ 99), Stade, Germany. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg (1999) Vol. 1661 381–399.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Russell, S. and P. Norvig: Artificial Intelligence–A modern Approach. Prentice Hall International, Inc. (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Searle, J.R.: The Construction of Social Reality. The Free Press, New York (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Torrens, P.M.: Can geocomputation save urban simulation? Throw some agents into the mixture, simmer, and wait... Center for advanced spatial analysis working paper series 32 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weiss, G. (ed.) Multiagent Systems–A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wooldridge, M.: Intelligent Agents. In: G. Weiss (ed.), Multiagent Systems–A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA (1999) 27–77.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geoinformation, Technical University Vienna, A-1040, Vienna, Austria

    Andrew U. Frank, Steffen Bittner & Martin Raubal

Authors
  1. Andrew U. Frank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steffen Bittner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Martin Raubal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    Daniel R. Montello

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Frank, A.U., Bittner, S., Raubal, M. (2001). Spatial and Cognitive Simulation with Multi-agent Systems. In: Montello, D.R. (eds) Spatial Information Theory. COSIT 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2205. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45424-1_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45424-1_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42613-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-45424-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation