Fourteen reusable building blocks (RBBs) for representing decision-making in agent-based models
a compilation on AGENTBLOCKS providing practical guidance and ways forward
Julia Kunkel (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Brandenburgische Technische Universität )
Volker Grimm (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Universität Potsdam)
Christian Stindt von Dohm (Technische Universität Hamburg)
Leon Grothmann (Technische Universität Hamburg)
Luana Schwarz (Universität Potsdam, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung)
Ronja Hotz (Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie)
Robert Huber (ETH Zürich)
Yongchao Zeng (Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie)
Kaja Jurak (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Brandenburgische Technische Universität )
Uta Berger (Technische Universität Dresden)
J. Gareth Polhill (The James Hutton Institute)
Liz Verbeek (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management, TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Tatiana Filatova (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Matthias Meyer (Technische Universität Hamburg)
Birgit Müller (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Brandenburgische Technische Universität , German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig)
Jürgen Groeneveld (Julius Kühn-Institute, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ)
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Abstract
Agent-based models (ABMs) are widely used to study socio–environmental systems. By integrating environmental modelling with behavioural theories, they enable to analyse how decision-making processes shape environmental outcomes. To speed up model development and enable cumulative theorising, it has been proposed to modularise components relevant across applications as reusable building blocks (RBBs). This paper describes an example of adopting the idea in practice using AGENTBLOCKS, a new open access platform for publishing RBBs. We present the first coordinated interdisciplinary effort of eleven modelling groups to identify, extract, review, and publish 14 decision-making RBBs from existing ABMs using AGENTBLOCKS. From this compilation, we extracted a decision tree to identify and scope reusable model components. Using a mixed-methods approach combining RBB criteria assessment, thematic coding of editorial feedback, and contributor surveys, we suggest empirically informed practices and next steps to lower the barrier for reusable coding practices in socio–environmental applications.
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