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Introduction to Mesa: Agent-based Modeling in Python
Python-based alternative to NetLogo, Repast, or MASON for agent-based modeling
Agent-based modeling relies on simulating the actions and interactions of autonomous agents to evaluate their effects on the system. It is often used to predict the projections that we will obtain given a complex phenomena. The main purpose is to obtain explanatory insight on how the agents will behave given a particular set of rules. Agent-based modeling has been extensively used in numerous industry such as biology, social sciences, network and business. This article covers the necessary steps to kick-start your agent-based modeling project using an open-source python module called Mesa. There are 4 sections in this tutorial:
- Setup
- Schelling Segregation Model
- Visualization
- Conclusion
1. Setup
Setup is pretty straightforward for Mesa. Make sure to create a new virtual environment. I name the environment as mesaenv. Open up your terminal and change the directory to mesaenv and activate the virtual environment using the following code:
Virtual Environment
Run the following command to activate the virtual environment depending on your use case.
