An Agent-based Grouping Strategy for Federated Grid Computing

Characterizing users based on their requirements and forming groups among providers accordingly to deliver them the stronger quality of service is a challenge for federated grid community Federated grid computing allows providers to behave cooperatively to ensure required utility by users Grouping grid providers under such an environment thus enhance the possibility of more jobs executed whereas a single provider or organization might not be able to do the same In this paper we propose an agent-based iterative Contract Net Protocol which supports in building federated grid via negotiating distributed providers The main focus of this paper is to minimize the number of iterations using a grouping mechanism Minimizing the number of iterations would produce less communication overhead which results in the minimum queue waiting time for users to publish their jobs Simulation results further ensure the feasibility of our approach in terms of profit and resource utilization compared to that of the traditional non-grouped marke

Development of an agent-based model and its application to the estimation of global carbon emissions

With the purpose of studying the influence of population dynamics and economic growth on energy consumption and carbon emissions, an endogenous economic growth model is proposed incorporating physical and human capital and using an Agent-Based Model. The model can test different development strategies by identifying the key factors exist-ing at the agent level that may speed up or slow down a given path, and therefore it is an interesting tool to develop and to test mitigation and/or adaptation measures. Favorable scenarios may be possible in societies that encourage invest-ment in human capital through education and technological development, provided that this is accompanied by a reduc-tion in consumption rates and the creation of physical capital by the population. Moreover, this model shows that hu-man capital resulting from education not only raises productivity, but also plays a key role in the development and adoption of new technologies that drive long-term growth.Fil: Castesana, Paula S.. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Puliafito, Salvador Enrique. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional de Mendoza; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza; Argentin

Iterative Combinatorial Auction for Two-Sided Grid Markets: Multiple users and Multiple Providers

Heterogeneity and different ownerships of grid computing resources impose complexity in evaluating the market value of these resources. Auction protocols are proposed to meet this challenge efficiently. Auction models are also suitable for achieving better payoff and resource allocation for grid providers. Grid users and providers are usually geographically distributed. The number of users in grid computing could also be very high. Hence, models provide seamless support to multiple users and providers would be useful to promote grid computing. In this paper, we implement a novel First Price Open Cry auction (ascending-bid auction) that supports for multiple users and providers simultaneously. We explain about (i) bundle generation (resource packages by providers), (ii) creating corresponding agents to bundles, (iii) allowing users to choose their suitable bundles, and (iv) clearing bundles through solving winner determination problem. The simulation results predict when and how to map providers’ private values on resource bundles, such that maximum revenue and better utilization of idle resources.

Overview on agent-based social modelling and the use of formal languages

Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Postprint (author's final draft

A Survey of Agent-Based Modeling Practices (January 1998 to July 2008)

In the 1990s, Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) began gaining popularity and represents a departure from the more classical simulation approaches. This departure, its recent development and its increasing application by non-traditional simulation disciplines indicates the need to continuously assess the current state of ABM and identify opportunities for improvement. To begin to satisfy this need, we surveyed and collected data from 279 articles from 92 unique publication outlets in which the authors had constructed and analyzed an agent-based model. From this large data set we establish the current practice of ABM in terms of year of publication, field of study, simulation software used, purpose of the simulation, acceptable validation criteria, validation techniques and complete description of the simulation. Based on the current practice we discuss six improvements needed to advance ABM as an analysis tool. These improvements include the development of ABM specific tools that are independent of software, the development of ABM as an independent discipline with a common language that extends across domains, the establishment of expectations for ABM that match their intended purposes, the requirement of complete descriptions of the simulation so others can independently replicate the results, the requirement that all models be completely validated and the development and application of statistical and non-statistical validation techniques specifically for ABM.Agent-Based Modeling, Survey, Current Practices, Simulation Validation, Simulation Purpose

A Discrete Event Simulation of Network Centric Operations: Modeling Unbalanced Combat Configurations in Symmetric Engagements

Network Centric Operations (NCO) has been dubbed the most significant revolution in military affairs (RMA) in the past 200 years. The promise of NCO is based on the notion that information sharing and connectivity is fundamental to the effectiveness of a combat force. This due to the ability of a properly networked force to self-synchronize itself as it engages enemy forces. The purposeful arrangement of assets in a combat force is what makes it \u27properly networked\u27. What is a purposeful arrangement of combat assets? How should a force organize to enhance information sharing and connectivity? And how does connectivity within a networked force impact its combat effectiveness? This research builds a discrete-event simulation of the information age combat model, which is a representation of NCO, in an attempt to understand the impact of information sharing and connectivity among the elements of a military force on its combat effectiveness. Unbalanced combat configurations doing symmetric engagements were selected as the prime focus. They were studied and simulated to gain insights into the dynamics of networked operations. The proposed discrete event combat model displayed significant increases in efficiency and speed of running compared to previous modeling work that utilized agent-directed simulations. Linear and nonlinear regression analyses were conducted to highlight the performance metrics that wield significant predictive power over the probability of winning a combat engagement

Um modelo baseado em agentes para simular políticas de ordenamento de áreas de acolhimento empresarial: o caso da rede do Quadrilátero Urbano

Tese de doutoramento em Engenharia CivilA distribuição espacial das atividades económicas e, em particular das empresas, é um tema que tem estado no topo das preocupações do planeamento do território pelas suas fortes implicações económicas e sociais. Por isso, as entidades que gerem o território têm-se esforçado por atrair empresas através da disponibilização de espaços qualificados para o efeito - as áreas de acolhimento empresarial (AAE’s), que encerram objetivos de natureza económica, territorial e ambiental. Um planeamento adequado é uma condição fundamental para que um espaço empresarial registe uma elevada taxa de ocupação de empresas. Um mau planeamento, por seu lado, repele as empresas e obriga a esforços/custos adicionais para tornar estes espaços atrativos. Estas questões tornam-se ainda mais pertinentes quando estão em causa políticas públicas que têm contribuído para aumentar a oferta de AAE’s. Esse foi o caso do que aconteceu em Portugal ao longo das últimas décadas, o que torna esse contexto particularmente interessante para o estudo em questão. O objetivo da investigação foi o de desenvolver um modelo baseado em agentes para testar o impacto que diferentes políticas podem ter na melhoria da atratividade das AAE’s do Quadrilátero Urbano, designação dada a uma rede constituída pelos municípios de Barcelos, Braga, Guimarães e Vila Nova de Famalicão. O estudo identificou 79 AAE’s com condições de atratividade muito diversas, integrando-se a maior parte delas na tipologia de parques industriais. As políticas simuladas, através da plataforma NetLogo, diferem no nível de qualificação e de coordenação com que são aplicadas nas AAE’s. Os impactos das políticas foram avaliados através da simulação de cinco cenários: 1) contexto de baixa qualificação das AAE’s; 2) qualificação seletiva das AAE’s; 3) qualificação geral das AAE’s; 4) implementação das estratégias previstas pelos municípios; 5) simulação dinâmica com todas as empresas. Além disso, com o modelo procurou-se validar um conjunto de hipóteses sobre a implicação das políticas nas AAE’s. As hipóteses consideradas foram: 1) a coordenação supramunicipal das políticas provoca um aumento da atratividade de todas as AAE’s; 2) a coordenação supramunicipal das políticas conduz a um ritmo de ocupação igual das AAE’s nos municípios; 3) a coordenação supramunicipal das políticas gera uma diminuição da dispersão das empresas de igual forma nos quatro municípios; 4) as políticas de qualificação das AAE’s provocam um aumento da taxa de ocupação de todas as AAE’s; 5) as políticas de promoção de espaços empresariais desqualificados e dispersos são ineficazes na atração de empresas. Os resultados obtidos mostram que uma política de (re)qualificação se traduz num aumento do número de AAE’s atrativas, do número de empresas instaladas e do número de lotes/pavilhões ocupados pelas empresas. Estes benefícios aplicam-se tanto no caso da requalificação das AAE’s já instaladas, como no caso dos espaços previstos para o futuro. Além disso, se as políticas de (re)qualificação das AAE’s forem implementadas de uma forma coordenada, os impactos serão mais positivos do que se os municípios prosseguirem com políticas individuais. A coordenação é, portanto, fundamental para reforçar a competitividade dos territórios que pretendem afirmar-se em rede. No entanto, a conclusão mais importante revela que uma política integrada de qualificação poderá ter impactos diferenciados à escala local, pois nem todas as AAE’s se tornam atrativas para as empresas. A simulação demonstrou que os espaços com má localização e com baixos níveis de qualificação são repulsivos para as empresas, mesmo se forem sujeitos a um conjunto de melhorias ao nível das infraestruturas e das amenidades. Neste caso, os resultados mostram que a política de promoção de AAE’s dispersas e com baixos níveis de qualificação é ineficiente na atração de empresas. Estas ilações poderão, assim, ser um contributo importante para nortear as políticas de ordenamento preconizadas para as AAE’s, com o objetivo de reforçar a competitividade dos territórios e das empresas.The spatial distribution of economic activities and, in particular, of firms is a topic widely studied in territory planning for its strong economic and social implications. For that reason, the entities that manage the territory have made significant efforts to attract firms by offering specific areas for this purpose - the industrial estates, which encompass economic, territorial and environmental goals. Appropriate planning is an essential condition for the success of an industrial estate, towards assuring a high level of occupancy. On the other hand, inadequate planning can make these spaces unattractive to firms, requiring additional costs and efforts in order to improve its competitiveness. These issues are even more critical as public policies have contributed to increase the offer of industrial estates. This is the case of Portugal in recent decades, hence this issue is particularly interesting in the scope of the current study. The goal of this research is the development of an agent-based model to assess the impact of different policies in the attractiveness of the industrial estates located in the Quadrilátero Urbano, designation given to a network composed by the Portuguese municipalities of Barcelos, Braga, Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão. The study identified 79 industrial estates with different attractiveness conditions, the majority of which are classified as industrial parks. The policies were simulated through the NetLogo toolkit and can be distinguished by the level of qualification and coordination implemented by the municipalities. The impact of these policies were evaluated through the simulation of the five following scenarios: 1) low level of qualification of the industrial estates; 2) selective qualification of the industrial estates; 3) general qualification of all industrial estates; 4) implementation of the strategies defined by the municipalities; 5) dynamic simulation with all the firms. Furthermore, the model was developed to validate a set of five hypotheses in the implication of the policies adopted in the industrial estates. The following hypotheses were considered: 1) the supramunicipal coordination of the policies increases the attractiveness of all industrial estates; 2) the supramunicipal coordination of the policies leads to a similar occupancy pattern of the estates in all municipalities; 3) the supramunicipal coordination of the policies generates an even reduction of the sprawl of firms in the four municipalities; 4) the qualification policies increase the occupancy rate in all estates; 5) the policies of promotion of diffused estates with low levels of qualification are inefficient tools to attract firms. Results show that the adoption of a qualification policy has a positive impact in the performance of the industrial estates, improving the number of attractive estates, the number of relocated firms and the number of plots occupied by firms. These benefits encompass both the existing estates, as well as the predicted new sites. In addition, the model demonstrated that if these policies are implemented in a coordinated manner, the impact will be greater than if municipalities individually pursue their initiatives. Thus, the coordination and the adoption of supramunicipal planning principles are essential to strengthen the competitiveness of territories that aim to grow as a network. However, the most important outcome shows that the adoption of a coordinated qualification policy can produce different impacts at a local/municipal scale, as some industrial estates remain unattractive to firms. The simulation demonstrated that the estates with worst location and with low coverage of facilities and amenities remain repulsive to firms even if subjected to an upgrade. In this case, the model clearly validated the hypothesis that the promotion of dispersed industrial estates with low levels of qualification is an inefficient policy to attract firms. These conclusions can provide an important contribution to guide planning policies directed to industrial estates with the aim of enhancing its territorial and entrepreneurial competitiveness