Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling

This textbook provides a practical introduction to agent-based modeling using NetLogo based on 15 years of teaching this methodology to students in the life and social sciences. Agent-based modeling is increasingly used by social and life scientists in their research and teaching. Agent-based modeling is discussed in this book as a research tool in tandem with other methodologies, as such attention is given to modeling as a scientific method.

The book first describes basic concepts and introduces you to NetLogo. Then gets you more familiar with modeling and NetLogo by exploring several classic agent-based models. Further, we discuss methods to analyze models using sensitivity analysis and calibration. We close with a series of chapters on ecosystem management and diffusion of viruses and gossip in networks.

Each chapter uses practical examples with NetLogo models, and those models are part of the standard NetLogo software or are freely available in the Computational Model Library of Comses.net.