Computational steering for geosimulations

Abstract

Geosimulations using computer simulation models provide researchers an effective way to study complex geographic phenomena and their outcomes. These simulations allow for scenario based exploration by capturing spatial and temporal relationships between various geographic processes in a region. However, current approaches to geosimulation limit manipulating model input and exploring alternative scenarios by controlling the simulation model at runtime. This paper proposes a computational steering system for geosimulation models and presents a prototype, tFUTURES , developed for the FUTURES Urban Growth Model (UGM). By allowing tangible inputs and implementing mechanisms to control model execution, this system solves the problem of lack of user-interactivity experienced at runtime. We develop a web interface and leverage the WMS, WFS-t and WPS OGC services to help visualize, modify and execute geosimulations. We define new steering controls within this interface and implement application checkpointing , allowing a user to provide new steering input and execute steering actions that can pause, advance or rollback a geosimulation and display the model outcomes in near real-time.