Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation I: Practical guide to the analysis of complex systems (System Dynamics Modeling with Vensim)

EDITION 2025

VENTITY USER'S GUIDE.

An Agent Based Model (ABM) allows simulating the actions and interactions of many agents or entities in order to evaluate their impact on the system as a whole. These models are used in areas such as industry, business, biology, ecology, and the social sciences.

CONTRIBUTIONS

The book provides:

1.- Immediate results. From the first pages the reader is already able to create an ABM model.

2.- A guide for beginners. Each concept is explained in detail with the support of more than 1000 figures.

3.- Didactic models. The 40 models included are designed to learn progressively. The models, with some help videos can be downloaded.

4.- Practical approach. The book allows the reader to see the possible applications to their own area of interest.

5.- Free and easy software. Specific and free software for personal and educational use is used, and no prior training is needed. It is not necessary to know programming languages.

AUTHOR AND REVIEWERS

Juan Martín García is a Doctor of Industrial Engineering in Business Organization from the UPC (Spain) and a Diploma from the Sloan School of Management at MIT (USA). He has more than 30 years of experience as a consultant for companies and public organizations using simulation models based on System Dynamics. Professor at several Spanish and Latin American universities, he teaches online courses at Vensim https://vensim.com/vensim-online-courses/ (in English) and System Dynamics at ATC-Innova http://atc-innova. com/ (Spanish). He is the author of books and lectures on business, social and environmental applications of simulation models.

- Dr. Francisco Campuzano Bolarín, Professor of Business Organization at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT).- Lening Mora, M.S Environmental & Occupational Health (San Diego, California) and Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Modeling and Simulation at Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California USA).- Professor Gavin Melles, PhD, MSc Swinburne University (Victoria, Australia).

INDEX

Introduction
Software
Installation
Working screen
A model in 1 minute

Concepts
Functions and tables
Variables
Model: Traffic light
Model: Paris Rome
Attributes
Model: Rio Bravo 2
Model: Truck Fleet
Collections and aggregates
Model: Dragons and Castles
Model: Parents and Children
Model: The Four Pirates
References
Model: White and Black
Model: White and Black 2
Model: White and Black 3
Comments
Tools
Entities initial parameters
Model: Horse Racing
Temporal parameters
Model: Satellite Launch
External data entities
Import initial data
Import time series data
Model: My three rabbits

Exercises
Model: Rabbit Population
Model: Rabbit Population 2
Model: Rabbit Population 3
Model: Rabbit population 4
Model: Rabbit population 5
Model: Sweet candies
Model: Cheese shop
Model: Cheese Shop 2
Model: Formula 1 drivers
Model: Patients and hospitals
Model: Horse breeding
Model: Horse breeding 2
Model: Horse breeding 3
Model: Horse breeding 4
Model: Horse breeding 5
Model: Fighter aircraft
Model: Fighter Aircraft 2
Model: Fishing in three seas
Model: Fishing in three seas 2
Model: Fishing in three seas 3
Model: Fishing in three seas 4
Model: Fishing in three seas 5
Model: Gold Market
Model: Gold Market 2
Model: Gold Market 3
Model: Gold Market 4
Model: Eco Restaurant
Model: Beer Game