Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas

Version 1 : Received: 26 February 2018 / Approved: 27 February 2018 / Online: 27 February 2018 (05:12:24 CET)

How to cite: Yang, L.E.; Hoffmann, P.; Scheffran, J.; Rühe, S.; Fischereit, J.; Gasser, I. An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas. Preprints 2018, 2018020174. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201802.0174.v1 Yang, L.E.; Hoffmann, P.; Scheffran, J.; Rühe, S.; Fischereit, J.; Gasser, I. An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas. Preprints 2018, 2018020174. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201802.0174.v1

Abstract

The importance of predicting the exposure to environmental hazards is highlighted by issues like global climate change, public health problems caused by environment stresses, and property damages and depreciations. Several approaches have been used to assess potential exposure and achieve optimal results under various conditions, for example, for different scales, groups of people, or certain points in time. Micro-simulation tools are becoming increasingly important in human exposure assessment, where each person is simulated individually and continuously. This paper describes an agent-based model (ABM) framework that can dynamically simulate human exposure levels, along with their daily activities, in urban areas that are characterized by environmental stresses such as air pollution and heat stress. Within the framework, decision making processes can be included for each individual based on rule-based behavior to achieve goals under changing environmental conditions. The ideas described in this paper are implemented in a free and open source NetLogo platform. A simplified modeling scenario of the ABM framework in Hamburg, Germany, further demonstrates its utility in various urban environments and individual activity patterns, and portability to other models, programs and frameworks. The prototype model can potentially be extended to support environmental incidence management by exploring the daily routines of different groups of citizens and compare the effectiveness of different strategies. Further research is needed to fully develop an operational version of the model.

Keywords

environmental stress; human exposure; agent-based model; air pollution; urban heat wave; exposure modeling; climate change

Subject

Social Sciences, Geography, Planning and Development

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