Toward Dynamic, Longitudinal, Agent-Based Microsimulation Models of Human Activity in Urban Settings

Recent trends toward operationalization of activity-based microsimulation models are producing new research questions related to the development of comprehensive models of human behavior. This paper provides a view of what will be necessary for the development of a dynamic, longitudinal, agent-based microsimulation model of human activity in urban settings. The discussion outlines a conceptual model of an environmentally situated human agent that must adapt to its environment in order to meet its goals. The agent's ability to perceive, interpret, and decide upon how to interact with its environment is viewed as a series of sub-models which are themselves the target of a set of learning procedures.