Agent-Based Simulation modeling Approach for Tenure Security Dynamics

Agent-Based Simulation modeling Approach for Tenure Security Dynamics

Nawasiya Mudiyanselage P, Milinda Piyasena

2019-10-03

Urbanization process governs by the market mechanism tend to marginalize the poor into squatter settlements (Davis, 2006, pp. 1-19). UN-HABITAT report in 2003 shows that 30% of the urban population lived in such settlements and trend becomes severe in coming decades (UNHABITAT, 2003). An inherent characteristic of squatter settlements is lack of tenure security. Insecure tenure lands being underutilized and less economically viable and hence, lands with tenure insecurity become dead capital to a nation (Soto, 2000, p. 29). Tenure security is one of the main goal of land administration Domain Modelling (LADM) (Lemmen, Ostroterom, and Bennett, 2015). However, land tenure security, unlike other economic indices, is very difficult in quantifying. This is mainly due to the fact that it is mainly depending on human perception (Deininger 2003, p. 36). According to some, development of tenure security is simply a matter of formalizing the title (Soto 2000). However, others argue that such formalization without focusing the possible environmental repercussions (mainly through the land market) may cause market eviction of the tenants. According to them, gradual enhancement of the tenure security, by calculating the possible environmental repercussions, would be the ideal mean of enhancement of the tenure security. However, the practical implication of such an approach may obstruct by the inability to quantify the true impact of tenure enhancement measures on the right holder. The research hypothesis that Land tenure security is not only cognitive based but also communicational structural. Hence, statistical approaches and other linear approaches for studying tenure security development do not provide accurate feedback. The objective of the research is, therefore, to identify the role of cognitive and social communicational structures in defining the land tenure security. In order to test the hypothesis, the researchers utilized the TUUD simulation model developed by Piyasena (2015). Accordingly, a framework for defining the tenant interactions as well the limiting environmental factors have decided through a literature review. Different cases have been build-up by changing the learning capacity of randomly selected agent (a land tenant). The results shows that tenure security conditions of the agents within the selected community is not only depending on the individual cognitive structures but also resulting communicational structures as well. In conclusion, there is a non-linear relation between tenure security and feedback structures as well as communication structure. This highlights the fact that land policies directions towards tenure security enhancement need be based on localized conditions and needs to avoid blue print solutions.

perceptual dynamics
land, tenure securityAccording
agent-based simulation

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:68ec2793-8f9f-451f-97e7-c9f561ee1b26

Conference proceedings

conference paper

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