The Multi-Agent Simulation of the Economic and Spatial Dynamics of a Poli-Necleated Urban Area

A multi-agents simulation model of the development of a poli-nucleated urban area is presented. This model, CityDev, is based on agents, goods and markets. Each agent (family, industrial firm, commercial firm, service firm, or developer) produces goods (labor, buildings, consumption goods) by using other goods and exchanges the goods in the markets. Each agent needs a building where to live or work, hence the urban fabric is produced and transformed as the result of the co-evolution of the economic and spatial systems. The model is applied to Florence (Italy) and its main feature~--~the interactivity via Internet~--~is shown. In fact web users can manage during the simulation, the agents generated by the simulator as well as the new agents established by themselves. In conclusion the basic characteristics of a multi-agents method are highlighted: the comprehensive character of an agent based simulation, the ability to interact with human users, and the validation based both on observed data and on a direct interaction with real actors.