A Graphical and Textual Representation for Multi-Agent Systems

Abstract

As scientists from various domains increasingly rely on agent-based simulation for a more thorough understanding of real-world phenomena, the need for a platform that facilitates rapid development of multi-agent systems is growing. Such a platform should provide means of visualizing the simulated scenario from different perspectives. In this thesis, we present our fully-functional Agent Visualization System (A VS), the first system of its kind to focus on catering to the visualization needs of agent-based simulation. The AVS is an add-on used with a simulation environment to equip it with a rich set of textual and graphical visualization facilities that provide the modeler with insight into the proceedings of his simulation. Several techniques from the field of Information Visualization were adapted and added to the AVS, such as eccentric labeling and dynamic queries, while others were devised especially for use in our system, such as the brushing-based browser and the aggregate browser. Regardless of their origin, all visualization techniques were thoroughly revised to make them generic enough to fit in our generic AVS. The AVS can run in centralized or distributed mode. In the latter, it is launched on a central site, with the ability to launch any number of remote browsers from other sites. One of the main challenges faced in developing the A VS was •how to make it completely generic. The AVS docs not require any a priori knowledge about the particulars of the simulation scenario that will be visualized. The agent types present in the scenario, together with their attributes and attribute meta-data, are all known at run time rather than hardwired into the AVS. Similarly, the way a certain agent type is rendered is completely in the hands of the modeler who can use the available GUI s to custom-create his own displays. The nature of simulation data posed another challenge. Each simulation step produces a large amount of varied data that needs to be processed and visualized within an acceptable time limit so that the AVS does not lag considerably behind the simulation system. The MicroTerra simulation scenario was used to illustrate the facilities of the AVS. Numerous combinations of browser types, features and specifications were tried. It was observed that almost all the implemented browsers helped shed light Oil the proceedings of Micro Terra.