Seminars & Events

Computation Institute Lunch Presentation
"A Simulation Framework for Exploring Socioecological Dynamics of Ancient and Modern Settlement Systems"

DATE: May 24, 2007
TIME: 12:00 pm
SPEAKER: John H. Christiansen, Computer Scientist, Decision and Information Sciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory
LOCATION: RI 405 at UofC & Room A134,Bldg. 221 at ANL, University of Chicago & Argonne National Laboratory

Description:
The presentation will describe a new object-oriented, agent-based simulation framework being built to help answer questions regarding the development and sustainability of ancient Mesopotamian settlement systems. This multi-model framework supports explicit representations of the dynamics of key natural processes (e.g., crop growth, hydrology, ungulant physiology), operating concurrently with social processes (kinship-driven behaviors, stress coping mechanisms, farming and herding practices, etc.) carried out by social agents that represent individual persons, households, and larger-scale organizations. The framework has allowed us to explore the inherently coupled dynamics of modeled settlements and landscapes that are undergoing diverse social and environmental stresses, both acute and chronic, across multi-generational timespans. A number of Bronze Age “stress scenario” simulation examples will be briefly discussed, both to highlight key features of the simulation and to illustrate some of the surprising and provocative emergent behaviors exhibited by such heterogeneous and complex dynamical systems. The simulation framework is flexible and scalable and has broad applicability. It has, for example, recently been adapted to address agroeconomic sustainability of settlement systems in modern rural Thailand.

More Information:
Sandwiches will be served at both locations
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