Elements of a computational infrastructure for social simulation

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences Vol. 368; no. 1925; pp. 3797 - 3812
• Main Authors: Birkin, Mark, Procter, Rob, Allan, Rob, Bechhofer, Sean, Buchan, Iain, Goble, Carole, Hudson-Smith, Andy, Lambert, Paul, De Roure, David, Sinnott, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Royal Society Publishing 28.08.2010; The Royal Society
• Subjects: Aggregation; Censuses; Computer Simulation; Data management; Data visualization; E-Infrastructure; Emergency management; Humans; Modeling; Models, Biological; Motivation; Risk Assessment; Scenario Planning; Simulation Models; Simulations; Social Behavior; Social Science; Social sciences; Social Sciences - trends; Spatial models; Transportation; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2010.0145

Applications of simulation modelling in social science domains are varied and increasingly widespread. The effective deployment of simulation models depends on access to diverse datasets, the use of analysis capabilities, the ability to visualize model outcomes and to capture, share and re-use simulations as evidence in research and policy-making. We describe three applications of e-social science that promote social simulation modelling, data management and visualization. An example is outlined in which the three components are brought together in a transport planning context. We discuss opportunities and benefits for the combination of these and other components into an e-infrastructure for social simulation and review recent progress towards the establishment of such an infrastructure.