Using multi-agent systems and role-playing games to simulate water management in peri-urban catchments

Adamatti Diana F., Sichman Jaime Simão, Ducrot Raphaèle. 2004. Using multi-agent systems and role-playing games to simulate water management in peri-urban catchments. In : Sixth International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, august 17-20 2004. International Sociological Association. s.l. : s.n., 1-7. International Conference on Social Science Methodology. 6, Amsterdam, Pays-Bas, 17 Août 2004/20 Août 2004.

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Résumé : Peri-urban catchments are characterized by their complexity (hydrological, sociological and geographical processes) as well as their dynamics. Their dynamics depend on the multiplicity of stakeholders, with differing and often conflicting land use representations and strategies. In order to simulate these, it is necessary both innovative methods and computer tools to support their coordination and mediation processes, aiming at an improved, more decentralized and integrated natural resources management. Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) and Role-Playing Games (RPG) are methods that have been used for some years to represent this dynamics. Computer tools are implemented using MAS and RPG to integrate the conceptual modelling, allowing to represent and to explore functioning and dynamics through testing of different scenarios. The peri-urban interface provides specific hydrological functions of a city and supports groundwater recharge zones and absorbs rainwater. An example of peri-urban catchment is the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, that is studied in the Negowat Project (Negotiation of Land and Water Conflicts in Latin America). We have developed a prototype of a computer tool to integrate water management and the actions of the stakeholders. This prototype, called "JogoMan", links MAS and RPG, and its implementation is based on Cormas, a Multi-Agent Simulator developed at CIRAD. JogoMan is a simplification of the real phenomena of interaction between the several actors, and it is used as a means of learning and analysis. The goal of Negowat Project is to define a complete conceptual model of the area and its implementation in two levels: local and catchment. In first level, the focus is in the negotiation and interaction of stakeholders, and in the second level, the focus is in multi-agent simulations and its effect in the quality of the water. For both levels, the project researchers will need to have strong linking with the local communities, who can supply many information about the real situation, and therefore being crucial for model construction. One of the project objectives is to use representative groups of people to better understand the functioning of the social and politics processes, and as consequence research will need a direct interaction with local communities. Some interesting questions related with this modelling and its implementation arises, like how one should model social processes in such an approach.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : conservation de l'eau, gestion des eaux, modèle de simulation, zone suburbaine

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Brésil

Mots-clés complémentaires : Système multiagents

Classification Agris : U10 - Informatique, mathématiques et statistiques
P10 - Ressources en eau et leur gestion

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