PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (11): 1336-1344.doi: 10.11820/dlkxjz.2011.11.002

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Cellular Automata Model and Multi-agent Model for the Simulation of Land Use Change: A Review

GUO Huanhuan, LI Bo, HOU Ying, SUN Tesheng   

  1. College of Resources Sciences & Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2011-01-01 Revised:2011-04-01 Online:2011-11-25 Published:2011-11-25

Abstract: Land use change simulation study is an important branch of the land use change research. The development of the complex system theory and simulation platform makes more and more complex system simulation methods used in the research of land use change. Cellular automaton model and multi-agent model are designed based on complex system theory. We introduce the development of the land use change simulation studies in this paper. We find that the mechanism of land use change is a complex system which is composed of individuals, community, resource and envrionment. Then, we discuss the meaning, main topics, simulation platform, advantages and limitations of cellular automaton model and multi-agent model. We also recommend future directions for land use change simulation research, which include the theoretical research, CA and MAS integration, and transition rules or decision making. It is significant to design a simulation platform suitable for China.

Key words: cellular automata, multi-agent model, the land use change