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Multiagent Spatial Modeling
University of California, Los Angeles
24-28 July 2000
“Computer Science is not about computers. It is about the kind of complex systems that we are.” -- Marvin Minsky
“Science is what we know well enough to teach to a computer. Art is everything else.” -- Donald Knuth
Workshop Coordinator & Instructor:
Nicholas Gessler
Informatics Specialist
Humanities Computing and Department of Geography
University of California, Los Angeles
Guest Speakers:
Steven Bankes (Evolving Logic Associates and Rand Corp.)
Catherine Dibble, Geography (University of California, Santa Barbara)
Jonathan Gratch (Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California)
Alex Singer (Integrated Media Systems, University of Southern California)
Co-sponsors with CSISS & host institution:
Center for Computational Social Science and Social Informatics (http://www.ccss.ucla.edu)
The Department of Design and Media Arts, University of California, Los Angeles
This is a workshop for doctoral students and faculty interested in the application of spatial concepts in the social sciences who have no previous computer programming experience. However, familiarity with the Windows operating system and the World Wide Web will be an asset. The sessions are designed to familiarize participants with computation by combining talks on the newest approaches to simulation with hands-on instruction in programming simulations on the PC. The cutting edge of computation will be presented by guest speakers who are experts in: the philosophy of computer science, the futures of computing media from mechanisms through silicon to DNA, the revolutionary field of evolutionary computation, and supercomputing and desktop simulations for policy, the military, and academic use. In the practical portion of the workshop, participants will build a Website and write simulations in the standard languages of Java (intended for web applets and stand-alone applications) and C++ (intended for fast “industrial strength” applications). Programming projects will proceed from examples and will, of pedagogical necessity, be limited to “toy” problems that illustrate different aspects of multiagent spatial simulations. We will emphasize continually switching attention from the “big picture” to “writing code” and back again and will combine both “top-down” and “bottom-up” strategies. The workshop should provide the epistemology, knowledge and confidence needed to begin the task of programming more elaborate models whether one wishes to write the code oneself, direct a team of programmers, learn the basics of simulation software packages, or be in a position to evaluate simulations offered by others.
Calendar:
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Monday
July 24, 2000
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Tuesday
July 25, 2000
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Wednesday
July 26, 2000
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Thursday
July 27, 2000
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Friday
July 28, 2000
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8:30-12
w/break
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The World Wide Web.
File Transfer Protocol.
Hypertext Mark-Up.
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Java basics: some simple spatial algorithms.
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C++ basics: language, space & time.
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C++ agent behaviors: sensors, cognizers, and actuators.
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C++ participant presentations & brainstorming.
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12-1
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Lunch
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Lunch
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Lunch
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Lunch
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Lunch
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1-4:30
w/break
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HTML Authoring. JavaScript.
Adobe PhotoShop.
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Java in/output: raster & vector data & image file formats.
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C++ in/output:
geographic data & image file formats.
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C++ parameters, multiple runs, data collection & visualization.
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C++ participant presentations & brainstorming.
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5-6
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Guest speaker.
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Guest speaker.
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Guest speaker.
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Guest speaker.
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Guest speaker.
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7-?
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Dinner
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Dinner
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Dinner
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Dinner
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Party
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