Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
SwarmFest, May 11, 2004 NetLogo: Design and Implementation of a Multi-Agent Modeling Environment Seth Tisue, lead developer Uri Wilensky, author and principal investigator Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling Northwestern University Outline • Introduction to NetLogo (Wilensky, 1999): what’s our niche? • Current and future developments: growing that niche What is NetLogo? • A multi-agent programming language… • …and integrated modeling environment Audience and goal • Dual audience: research and education • Goal: “Low threshold, high ceiling” Why “low threshold” matters • Not just for teaching; researchers should care too – Rapid development, ease of experimentation and prototyping – Communication, sharing, verification – “Clear box” (aka “white box”) Achieving low threshold • Why a special language? – Leave out language complexity – Add language features that are specific to agent-based modeling • Why an integrated environment? – Reduce complexity of the software development process NetLogo facts • Cross-platform (written in Java) • Free download; no restrictions on use • 147 complete, documented sample models (and 83 user community models) • Under development since 1999 – Very active development: usually 2 or 3 releases per year • Large and active user community The NetLogo language • Logo core • Adds agents and concurrency • Successor to StarLisp, CM StarLogo, MacStarLogo, and StarLogoT; redesigned for both ease and power • Observer, patches, turtles (and breeds) • Agentsets • 2-D spatial relationships (distance, towards, etc.) More NetLogo features • Web delivery of models as applets • BehaviorSpace tool for parameter sweeping • HubNet, for participatory simulations (Wilensky & Stroup, 1999) What’s new? What’s new? Graphics • Faster, more flexible graphics – Turtle sizes – Exact turtle positions – Label agents with text – Smooth, flicker-free animation Graphics: Before Graphics: Before & after Graphics credit: Owen Densmore Graphics Graphics credit: James Steiner Graphics What’s new? Extensibility • Extensions API – Add new commands to language by implementing them in Java • Controlling API – “Script” NetLogo from Java, such as for doing batch runs What’s new? Extensibility • All-in-one = all-or-nothing? • Transition to a modular architecture • Bridging the gap between integrated environments and libraries What’s coming soon? Work in progress • World topologies • 3-D world, 3-D graphics Work in progress: Procedural Modeling of Cities • Now in first year of three-year NSF funded project • Two components: – Land use patterns (including streets & roads) – Building shapes credit: Tom Lechner Ben Watson Pin Ren Martin Felsen Uri Wilensky Seth Tisue Expected spin-offs for NetLogo • Large, complex, multi-leveled models • Speed • Pluggable visualization engines Ask me for copies • Tisue & Wilensky, “NetLogo: A Simple Environment for Modeling Complexity” [ICCS 2004] • Tisue & Wilensky, “NetLogo: Design and Implementation of a Multi-Agent Modeling Environment” [SwarmFest 2004] • Lechner, Watson, Felsen, Wilensky, Ren, Tisue, “Procedural Modeling of Land Use in Cities” [draft] Try it! • Explore our Models Library online • Download application (includes all models) http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/