Online Gaming For Understanding Agents\u27 Behavior In Water-Sharing Problems

While modeling can help with our understanding of complex coupled human-natural systems, past research has not been able to realistically simulate these systems because of two major limitations: (1) lack of computational capacity and proper mathematical models for solving distributed systems with self-optimizing agents and (2) lack of enough information about users\u27 characteristics in common pool resource systems due to absence of reliable monitoring information. Recently, different studies have tried to address the first limitation by developing agent-based models, which can be appropriately handled with today\u27s computational capacity. While these models are more realistic than the social planner\u27s models, traditionally used in the field, they normally rely on different heuristics for characterizing users\u27 behavior and incorporating heterogeneity. This work is a step forward in addressing the second limitation, suggesting an efficient method for collecting information on diverse behavioral characteristics of real agents for incorporation in distributed agent-based models. Gaming in interactive virtual environments is suggested as a reliable method for understanding different variables that promote sustainable resource use through observation of decision making and behavior of the resource system beneficiaries under various institutional frameworks and policies. In this work, a web-based groundwater sharing simulation game-Irrigania - is used as a tool to analyze the behavior of real agents under different common pool resource management institutions. Information is collected on participants\u27 resource use, behavior, and mindset under different institutional settings through behavior observation and discussion with participants. Preliminary use of water resources gaming suggests communication, cooperation, information disclosure, trust, credibility, and social learning between beneficiaries as factors promoting a shift toward sustainable resource use. The different behavioral groups identified in the study can be used for improved calibration of multiagent groundwater management systems that normally suffer from lack of realistic heterogeneity in users\u27 behavioral characteristics