CFBM - A Framework for Data Driven Approach in Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation

Recently, there has been a shift from modeling driven approach to data driven approach in Agent Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS). This trend towards the use of data-driven approaches in simulation aims at using more and more data available from the observation systems into simulation models [1, 2]. In a data driven approach, the empirical data collected from the target system are used not only for the design of the simulation models but also in initialization, evaluation of the output of the simulation platform. That raises the question how to manage empirical data, simulation data and compare those data in such agent-based simulation platform. In this paper, we first introduce a logical framework for data driven approach in agent-based modeling and simulation. The introduced framework is based on the combination of Business Intelligence solution and a multi-agent based platform called CFBM (Combination Framework of Business intelligence and Multi-agent based platform). Secondly, we demonstrate the application of CFBM for data driven approach via the development of a Brown Plant Hopper Surveillance Models (BSMs), where CFBM is used not only to manage and integrate the whole empirical data collected from the target system and the data produced by the simulation model, but also to initialize and validate the models. The successful development of the CFBM consists not only in remedying the limitation of agent-based modeling and simulation with regard to data management but also in dealing with the development of complex simulation systems with large amount of input and output data supporting a data driven approach

Real-time supply chain simulation: a big data-driven approach

Simulation of Supply Chains comprises huge amounts of data, resulting in numerous entities flowing in the model. These networks are highly dynamic systems, where entities' relationships and other elements evolve with time, paving the way for real-time Supply Chain decision-support tools capable of using real data. In light of this, a solution comprising of a Big Data Warehouse to store relevant data and a simulation model of an automotive plant, are being developed. The purpose of this paper is to address the modelling approach, which allowed the simulation model to automatically adapt to the data stored in a Big Data Warehouse and thus adapt to new scenarios without manual intervention. The main characteristics of the conceived solution were demonstrated, with emphasis to the real-time and the ability to allow the model to load the state of the system from the Big Data Warehouse.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019 and by the Doctoral scholarship PDE/BDE/114566/2016 funded by FCT, the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through national funds, and co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Operational Programme for Human Capital (POCH)

On the use of simulation as a Big Data semantic validator for supply chain management

Simulation stands out as an appropriate method for the Supply Chain Management (SCM) field. Nevertheless, to produce accurate simulations of Supply Chains (SCs), several business processes must be considered. Thus, when using real data in these simulation models, Big Data concepts and technologies become necessary, as the involved data sources generate data at increasing volume, velocity and variety, in what is known as a Big Data context. While developing such solution, several data issues were found, with simulation proving to be more efficient than traditional data profiling techniques in identifying them. Thus, this paper proposes the use of simulation as a semantic validator of the data, proposed a classification for such issues and quantified their impact in the volume of data used in the final achieved solution. This paper concluded that, while SC simulations using Big Data concepts and technologies are within the grasp of organizations, their data models still require considerable improvements, in order to produce perfect mimics of their SCs. In fact, it was also found that simulation can help in identifying and bypassing some of these issues.This work has been supported by FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019 and by the Doctoral scholarship PDE/BDE/114566/2016 funded by FCT, the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through national funds, and co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Operational Programme for Human Capital (POCH)

Data driven agent-based micro-simulation in social complex systems

We are recently witnessing an increase in large-scale micro/individual/- granular level behavioural data. Such data has been proven to have the capacity to aid the development of more accurate simulations that will ef- fectively predict the behaviours of complex systems. Despite this increase, the literature has failed to produce a structured modelling approach that will effectively take advantage of such granular data, in modelling com- plex systems that involve social phenomenons (i.e. social complex sys- tems). In this thesis, we intend to bridge this gap by answering the question of how novel structural frameworks, that systematically guides the use of micro-level behaviour and attribute data, directly extracted from the ba- sic entities within a social complex system can be created. These frame- works should involve the systematic processes of using such data to di- rectly model agent attributes, and to create agent behaviour rules, that will directly represent the unique micro entities from which the data was ex- tracted. The objective of the thesis is to define generic frameworks, that would create agent based micro simulations that would directly reflect the target complex system, so that alternative scenarios, that cannot be inves- tigated in the real system, and social policies that need to be investigated before being applied on the social system can be explored. In answering this question, we take advantage of the pros of other model- ing techniques such as micro simulation and agent based techniques in cre- ating models that have a micro-macro link, such that the micro behaviour that causes the macro emergence at the simulation’s global level can be easily investigated. which is a huge advantage in policy testing. We also utilized machine learning in the creation of behavioural rules.This created agent behaviours that were empirically defined. Therefore, this thesis also answers the question of how such structural framework will empirically create agent behaviour rules through machine learning algorithms. In this thesis we proposed two novel frameworks for the creation of more accurate simulations. The concepts within these frameworks were proved using case studies, in which these case studies where from different so- cial complex systems, so as to prove the generic nature of the proposed frameworks. In concluding of this thesis, it was obvious that the questions posed in the first chapter had been answered. The generic frameworks had been created, which bridged the existing gap in the creation of accurate mod- els from the presently available granular attribute and behavioral data, al- lowing the simulations created from these models accurately reflect their target social complex systems from which the data was extracted from