MaSS stands for Multi-agent Simulation Studio. It is a set of integrated tools specializing in simulating time-based evolution of populations, ranging from viruses to ants to primates. Basically, this software allows you to build your miniature world, with simplified, parametrized individuals/entities. The user may define a model (with parameters, internal and external equations), an environment (maps, paths, fields, integral variables) , the laws by which these entities may move (walk&motion models), interact with one another (behavioral equations) or with their surroundings (dynamic map interaction)… and so on. The agents (AKA “the little guys”) then inhabit this world, obey its rules, try to maximize their objectives (plainly put, achieve their purposes), interact, make memories, reproduce, die etc. Moreover, the user may observe, inspect and analyze each property (or expression – a value defined by an multitude of properties), either on a global scale (over an entire sub-set of the population) or a local scale (involving only one particular individual).
By means of MaSS, the user is able to design, simulate and analyze social environments, their properties, their evolution, patterns that may emerge – in motion, numerical measures, development or behavior.
Amongst the numerous uses of MaSS, one could enumerate:
- Epidemiology – the simulation would calculate the spreading of a certain disease (with specific mortality rates, incubation period, known treatments, patient-zero distribution etc.) within a population with certain non-homogeneous properties.
- Tactical and military simulation – the simulation here would foresee the results of a battle/military conflict, involving opposing troops, with significantly different characteristics (weaponry, shields, attack power, defense power, tactics, battlefield experience and so on).
- Predator/prey food chains – estimating the population evolution in ecosystems with a complex trophic architecture (basically, this can be see as a low-level, discrete analysis of the non-linear population dynamics described by the Lotka-Voltera equations)
- Sexual selection and interaction – estimating sexual behavior, including but not limited to selection and reproduction. Also, values such as satisfaction, libido, aggressiveness, frustration, sexual experience may be implemented, models and studied.
- The dynamics of population masses – can be studies in a similar manner with sexual behavior, only emphasizing psychological traits (aggressiveness, stress, rage, satisfaction and so on).
- The dynamics of cooperative or competitive species (ants, bees, primates).
- Ecology – study of waste dynamics in populated regions, including diffusion and evaporation.
(and so on).
Each one of the MaSS features will be explained in future posts. For now, feel free to download a trial version of MaSS, with the included example-simulations, HERE.
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, bug-reports, ideas for further research, modeling challenges and so on.
