IE 48F Agent-based Modeling and Simulation

This course is designed to provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to conduct a simulation supported analysis of socio-technical problems using agent-based models (ABMs). Students will gain understanding and awareness of the fundamental differences of agent-based modeling from other simulation modeling approaches, and nature of problems/objectives that ABMs fit the best. Besides, students will develop competency in building ABMs, analyzing and interpreting results from these models, and communicating a complete simulation supported analysis cycle to peers/clients. Example models used during the semester will be drawn from social, economic, environmental, industrial, energy and logistic/transportation problems. For the term project, students will go through a model supported analysis process as they develop an ABM in order to analyze a problem from their own areas of interest.