Description

Simulating social interaction in humans is a quite daunting task, should one take into account its almost infinite complexity and dynamic nature. Evidently, models built on paper are as static as they are limited in detail. Therefore, modelling a social system requires computer-based simulations that have the benefit of animation.
While most models deal strictly with one side or other of society, and do it at a very abstract, mathematical level, agent-based models such as Sugarscape take a bottom-up approach, allowing the user to include as many behaviours as necessary, from virtually any field, and apply them at the individual level. Consequently, this particular model becomes much more approachable, requiring only casual observation of real-life activities on the part of the analyst in order to output aggregate, top-level answers to a particular question.
Shaped along the lines of the Sugarscape model, the current framework attempts to give the potential user an unprecedented level of flexibility in tackling and deciphering the inner workings of social systems, through a modular approach and an open, script-based system. The application presents itself on a two-pronged basis: written in Lua script, the heart of the simulation is open to ad-hoc modifications, while the user interface takes advantage of the graphical features of Java and a set of third-party libraries to bring life to the data outputs of the model.
Expanding on these highlights, the paper provides an in-depth view of the framework itself, as well as of its context, reasons and methods of usage.