Using Agent Based Simulations In A Training Environment

This paper 1 discusses an object-oriented discrete-state simulation environment to support the creation and execution of agent based simulations. The system allows the graphical specification and monitoring of simulations where interactions between agents and their environment are used to model real world systems. The flexibility and clarity of operation provided by graphical tools enabled a rapid prototyping approach to be adopted; which is particularly important where the domain to be modelled is not well understood. A prototype encompassing these ideas has been built to assist in training police officers in the techniques necessary to manage public order incidents. INTRODUCTION An overview of a system developed for agent based simulation (see (Hartley et al. 1992) and (Williams 1993) for a more detailed description) is described together with a particular context of use, namely the planning and management of public order incidents. The requirements imposed by the context are then..