Fourteenth international online seminar "Artificial Societies and Information Technologies"

On September 10, 2021, a meeting of the international online seminar "Artificial Societies and Information Technologies" was held, dedicated to the report of Ali Termos (American University in Bulgaria).

Speech topic: Using Agent-Based models in Urban Analysis: The Case of Lebanon

Brief abstract:

At a geographical and strategic confluence, the ancient city of Beirut, Lebanon, has witnessed crises from natural and human causes over the centuries. The modern urban and peri-urban development is a result of neo-classical economics, laissez-faire regulations, and complex socio-political structures. This paper considers the contemporary housing situation and asks about its resilience to crises. The methodological approach is speculative simulation. We capture the urban status quo through agent-based simulation, and simulate a range of independent shocks. Although the goal of the paper is exploratory and not historical replay, the shocks considered are historical exemplars, such as the 4-8-20 explosion. Looking across peri-urban Beirut, we measure qualitative effects on housing economics and dynamics, and on residents' and attitudinal outlook. The contribution of the paper is a data- and modeling-approach to humane questions of interest to urban scholars. The simulation model is available open source to provoke further inquiry.

Video of this seminar on our YouTube channel