Calls > Session 16

16 – Representing territories in simulation models

Co-facilitators: Marion LE TEXIER (IDEES), Arnaud BANOS (Géographie-cités), Clémentine COTTINEAU (University College London) & Sébastien REY-COYREHOURCQ (IDEES)

The increasing use of simulation models in geography has strengthened several fields of knowledge over the last thirty years (mobility, transport, diffusion, human-habitat interactions, health, territorial systems, urban form, etc.). Numerous advances have been made both in terms of computing (more accessible platforms, new computing paradigms, etc.) and modelling methods (descriptive framework, coupling of models, multi-modelling, etc.) to assess the heuristic and technical “validity” of these models (characterisation of the model tryptych of structure-parameters–output). Curiously, only a small part of this work has questioned the implications of – and potential biaises introduced by – the representation of the territory on which interactions beween individuals and objects occur. However, the community of French theoretical and quantitative geographers, with considerable experience in spatial analysis, has published several papers and texts in an effort to throw some light on this question. The proposed session would pursue this collective dynamic, with a view to bringing together researchers dealing with the effects of territorial representations in simulation models. Beyond presentations and exchanges on current research, the session should enable the foundations to be laid for a discussion concerning the epistemological and methodological aspects of the following questions:
- What geographical compromises have been made during the process of simulation model building?
- What are the effects (observed or suspected) of territorial representation on model behaviour and simulation results?
- What impact may these effects have on our ability to understand simulated phenomena?

Bibliography

Banos A., 2012, "Network effects in Schelling's model of segregation: new evidences from agent-based simulation", Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 39(2), pp. 393-405.
Flache A., Hegselmann R., 2001, "Do Irregular Grids make a Difference? Relaxing the Spatial Regularity Assumption in Cellular Models of Social Dynamics", Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 4(4), pp. 1-6
Fossett M., Dietrich D.R., 2009, "Effects of city size, shape, and form, and neighborhood size and shape in agent-based models of residential segregation: are Schelling-style preference effects robust?", 36(1), pp. 149-169.
Kwan M. P., 2012, "The uncertain geographic context problem", Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 102(5), pp. 958-968.
Le Texier M., Caruso, G., 2017, "Assessing geographical effects in spatial diffusion processes: The case of euro coins", Computer, Environment and Urban Systems, 61-A, pp. 81-93.
Openshaw S., 1984, The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem, Norwich, UK, Geo Books.
Raimbault J., Banos A., Doursat R., 2014, "A Hybrid Network/Grid Model of Urban Morphogenesis and Optimization", 4th International Conference on Complex Systems and Applications (ICCSA 2014), pp. 51-60.
Spielman S., Harrison P., 2014, "The Co‐evolution of Residential Segregation and the Built Environment at the Turn of the 20th Century: A Schelling Model", *Transactions in GIS*, 18(1), pp. 25-45.
Thomas I., Jones J., Caruso G., Gerber P., 2017, "City delineation in European applications of LUTI models: review and tests", Transport Reviews (en ligne).

Expected types of paper

Theories, methodology, fieldwork, results.