Simulating knowledge sharing in spatial planning: an agent-based approach

This paper presents a multiagent system (MAS) that simulates a multiactor interactive spatial-planning process. The MAS extends an existing approach with the principle of sharing knowledge between participating actors while trying to create a shared vision. In the simulation, actors are modelled as agents. They have desires and preferences regarding the future development of their environment. These are used to develop their individual views on what areas are eligible for change. A facilitator agent coordinates the exchange of information by indicating possible solutions and conflicts to the actor agents. The simulation is demonstrated for an allocation problem in a pilot area in the southeast of the Netherlands. Four different scenarios are implemented, which demonstrate the impact of cooperation and hierarchy during an interactive spatial-planning process. Although the model is kept limited in terms of input data, the results show its potential for providing insight into the relations and interaction between actors, rather than predicting the results of an interactive spatial-planning process.