Within the field of Criminology, the spatio-temporal dynamics of crime are an important subject of study. In this area, typical questions are how the behaviour of offenders, targets, and guardians can be explained and predicted, as well as the emergence and displacement of criminal hot spots. In...

When talking to fellow modellers about the feedback we get on our simulation models the conversation quickly shifts to anecdotes of rejective scepticism. Many of us experience that they get only few remarks, and especially only little helpful constructive feedback on their simulation models. In...

This paper presents a set of guidelines, imported from the field of forecasting, that can help social simulation and, more specifically, agent-based modelling practitioners to improve the predictive performance and the robustness of their models. The presentation starts with a discussion on the...

This paper develops an agent-based model with the aim of forecast the population dynamics on regions using the Spanish case. It contains the following modules: Ageing and deceases Pairing Births Mobility and emigration Immigration Labour market

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Social science research is concerned with the study of processes and phenomena in human societies, institutions and organizations. Social phenomena are complex due to many non-linear interactions between their elements. Social simulation represents a new paradigm for understanding social...

This special issue of Advances in Complex Systems presents a collection of selected papers of the 4th Conference of the European Social Simulation Association held in Tolulouse, France on 10–14 September 2007.

There is growing interest in extending complex systems approaches to the social sciences. This is apparent in the increasingly widespread literature and journals that deal with the topic and is being facilitated by adoption of multi-agent simulation in research. Much of this research uses simple...