A DSL for continuous-time agent-based modeling and simulation

Abstract

Most state-of-the-art agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) frameworks offer a way to describe agent behavior in a programming language. Whereas these frameworks support easy development of time-stepped models, continuous-time models can only be implemented by manually scheduling and retracting events as part of the agent behavior. To facilitate a separation of concerns into model- and simulation-specific code for continuous-time ABMS, we propose an embedded domain-specific language, which allows describing agent behavior concisely, and corresponding simulation algorithms, which allow executing continuous-time models. The language style and the algorithms are adapted from rule-based modeling languages for Continuous-Time Markov Chains and Stochastic Simulation Algorithm variants. We implemented prototypes of the modeling language and simulation algorithms based on Repast Simphony.