Design of an agent-based model to examine population–environment interactions in Nang Rong District, Thailand

Stephen J Walsh; George P Malanson; Barbara Entwisle; Ronald R Rindfuss; Peter J Mucha; Benjamin W Heumann; Philip M McDaniel; Brian G Frizzelle; Ashton M Verdery; Nathalie E Williams; Xiaozheng Yao; Deng Ding

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.12.010

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Design of an agent-based model to examine population–environment interactions in Nang Rong District, Thailand

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Design of an agent-based model to examine population–environment interactions in Nang Rong District, Thailand

Stephen J Walsh, George P Malanson, Barbara Entwisle, Ronald R Rindfuss, Peter J Mucha, Benjamin W Heumann, Philip M McDaniel, Brian G Frizzelle, Ashton M Verdery, Nathalie E Williams, …

Applied Geography, Vol.39, pp.183-198

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.12.010

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Abstract

Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

Human Geography

agent-based model

spatial simulations

model architecture

social and land use module interactions

population-environment interactions

Northeastern Thailand

The design of an agent-based model (ABM) is described that integrates Social and Land Use Modules to examine population-environment interactions in a former agricultural frontier in Northeastern Thailand. The ABM is used to assess household income and wealth derived from agricultural production of lowland, rain-fed paddy rice and upland field crops in Nang Rong District as well as remittances returned to the household from family migrants who are engaged in off-farm employment in urban destinations. The ABM is supported by a longitudinal social survey of nearly 10,000 households, a deep satellite image time-series of land use change trajectories, multi-thematic social and ecological data organized within a GIS, and a suite of software modules that integrate data derived from an agricultural cropping system model (DSSAT - Decision Support for Agrotechnology Transfer) and a land suitability model (MAXENT - Maximum Entropy), in addition to multi-dimensional demographic survey data of individuals and households. The primary modules of the ABM are the Initialization Module, Migration Module, Assets Module, Land Suitability Module, Crop Yield Module, Fertilizer Module, and the Land Use Change Decision Module. The architecture of the ABM is described relative to module function and connectivity through uni-directional or bi-directional links. In general, the Social Modules simulate changes in human population and social networks, as well as changes in population migration and household assets, whereas the Land Use Modules simulate changes in land use types, land suitability, and crop yields. We emphasize the description of the Land Use Modules - the algorithms and interactions between the modules are described relative to the project goals of assessing household income and wealth relative to shifts in land use patterns, household demographics, population migration, social networks, and agricultural activities that collectively occur within a marginalized environment that is subjected to a suite of endogenous and exogenous dynamics.

Details

Title: Design of an agent-based model to examine population–environment interactions in Nang Rong District, Thailand
Authors: Stephen J Walsh (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
George P Malanson (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
Barbara Entwisle (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Ronald R Rindfuss (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Peter J Mucha (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Benjamin W Heumann (Author) - Central Michigan University, United States
Philip M McDaniel (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Brian G Frizzelle (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Ashton M Verdery (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Nathalie E Williams (Author) - University of Washington, United States
Xiaozheng Yao (Author) - University of North Carolina, United States
Deng Ding (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
Publication details: Applied Geography, Vol.39, pp.183-198
Publisher: Pergamon
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.12.010
ISSN: 0143-6228
Copyright note: Copyright © 2013. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450207902621
Output Type: Journal article