Approaching parallel computing to simulating population dynamics in demography
Approaching parallel computing to simulating population dynamics in demography
Agent-based modelling and simulation is a promising methodology that can be applied in the study of population dynamics. The main advantage of this technique is that it allows representing the particularities of the individuals that are modeled along with the interactions that take place among them and their environment. Hence, classical numerical simulation approaches are less adequate for reproducing complex dynamics. Nowadays, there is a rise of interest on using distributed computing to perform large-scale simulation of social systems. However, the inherent complexity of this type of applications ischallenging and requires the study of possible solutions from the parallel computing perspective (e.g., how to deal with fine grain or irregular workload). In this paper, we discuss the particularities of simulating populating dynamics by using parallel discrete event simulation methodologies. To illustrate our approach, we present a possible solution to make transparent the use of parallel simulation for modeling demographic systems: Yades tool. In Yades, modelers can easily define models that describe different demographic processes with a web user interface and transparently run them on any computer architectureenvironment thanks to its demographic simulation library and code generator. Therefore, transparency is provided by by two means: the provision of a web user interface where modelers and policy makers can specify their agent-based models with the tools they are familiar with, and the automatic generation of the simulation code that can be executed in any platform (cluster or supercomputer). A study is conducted to evaluate the performance of our solution in a High Performance Computing environment. The main benefit of this outline is that our findings can be generalized to problems with similar characteristics to our demographic simulation model.
Agent-based simulation, Simulation tool, Demography, population dynamics, High performance computing, Transparency
151-170
Montanola Sales, Cristina
dcbb960c-b51e-4120-bf3c-fd8e6dbd82c8
Onggo, Bhakti S.S.
8e9a2ea5-140a-44c0-9c17-e9cf93662f80
Casanovas-Garcia, Josep
9a35ab9f-8adc-47ce-90fd-6b893e3db28e
Cela-Espín, Jose María
959211e4-4176-4755-b3a3-b652540c67e8
Kaplan-Marcusán, Adriana
24a82a6c-e312-41d0-ad6d-205832828ecb
November 2016
Montanola Sales, Cristina
dcbb960c-b51e-4120-bf3c-fd8e6dbd82c8
Onggo, Bhakti S.S.
8e9a2ea5-140a-44c0-9c17-e9cf93662f80
Casanovas-Garcia, Josep
9a35ab9f-8adc-47ce-90fd-6b893e3db28e
Cela-Espín, Jose María
959211e4-4176-4755-b3a3-b652540c67e8
Kaplan-Marcusán, Adriana
24a82a6c-e312-41d0-ad6d-205832828ecb
Montanola Sales, Cristina, Onggo, Bhakti S.S., Casanovas-Garcia, Josep, Cela-Espín, Jose María and Kaplan-Marcusán, Adriana
(2016)
Approaching parallel computing to simulating population dynamics in demography.
Parallel Computing, 59, .
(doi:10.1016/j.parco.2016.07.001).
Abstract
Agent-based modelling and simulation is a promising methodology that can be applied in the study of population dynamics. The main advantage of this technique is that it allows representing the particularities of the individuals that are modeled along with the interactions that take place among them and their environment. Hence, classical numerical simulation approaches are less adequate for reproducing complex dynamics. Nowadays, there is a rise of interest on using distributed computing to perform large-scale simulation of social systems. However, the inherent complexity of this type of applications ischallenging and requires the study of possible solutions from the parallel computing perspective (e.g., how to deal with fine grain or irregular workload). In this paper, we discuss the particularities of simulating populating dynamics by using parallel discrete event simulation methodologies. To illustrate our approach, we present a possible solution to make transparent the use of parallel simulation for modeling demographic systems: Yades tool. In Yades, modelers can easily define models that describe different demographic processes with a web user interface and transparently run them on any computer architectureenvironment thanks to its demographic simulation library and code generator. Therefore, transparency is provided by by two means: the provision of a web user interface where modelers and policy makers can specify their agent-based models with the tools they are familiar with, and the automatic generation of the simulation code that can be executed in any platform (cluster or supercomputer). A study is conducted to evaluate the performance of our solution in a High Performance Computing environment. The main benefit of this outline is that our findings can be generalized to problems with similar characteristics to our demographic simulation model.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 July 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 21 July 2016
Published date: November 2016
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Parallel Computing. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Parallel Computing, 59, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.parco.2016.07.001
Keywords:
Agent-based simulation, Simulation tool, Demography, population dynamics, High performance computing, Transparency
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 425083
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/425083
ISSN: 0167-8191
PURE UUID: a67dad67-9e95-4fbc-bbba-1c1ca3abdb34
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Date deposited: 10 Oct 2018 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:38
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Contributors
Author:
Cristina Montanola Sales
Author:
Josep Casanovas-Garcia
Author:
Jose María Cela-Espín
Author:
Adriana Kaplan-Marcusán
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