Modeling Complex Dynamic Systemswith
StarLogoin the Supercomputing Challenge
http://education.mit.edu/starlogo
StarLogo is a computer modeling tool Developed at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Designed to enable people to build their own models of complex dynamic systems.
Emphasizes “Learning by creating and observing”.
Used by students, teachers, and researchers to develop a deeper understanding of the patterns and processes in the world around us.
A “Forest Fire” model created with StarLogo
StarLogo is a programming language Easy-to-learn programming
commands can be used to produce effective and interesting models of natural or hypothetical systems
Advanced programming commands allow for more complex modeling and rich data output
A list of all programming commands are available on the StarLogo website
Creating Computer Models with StarLogo Create models or simulations by writing simple rules
for individual “creatures” or “agents” to follow No sophisticated mathematics or programming required Explore the behavior of complex systems
ThePredator,Prey, andGrassModel
Key Elements of a StarLogo Model The “Observer” program – controls the world The “Turtles” program – animates the agents The “Patches” – reveal the world’s “terrain”
An example StarLogo model Rabbits and Grass
Grass grows Rabbits eat grass or die Rabbits reproduce
Using StarLogo in the Challenge
The StarLogo language can be used to create models or simulations of real-life or hypothetical phenomena.
Some projects can be modeled using StarLogo, others are not suitable for modeling in StarLogo.
Is StarLogo appropriate for your project?
Modeling and Computational Science
• A model is a simplified representation of the interaction of real-world objects in a complex dynamic system.
• The goal is to gain an understanding of how the model’s results relate to possible real-world phenomena.
• Random factors built into the model and variables changed by the user cause different results to be generated when the model is run repeatedly.
• Models are just one component of the computational science process.
The Computational Science Process
StarLogo fits in this process as the Computational Model
Begin here
What are complex dynamic systems?Complex difficult-to-understand or difficult to predict
Dynamicmoving, changing
“Complex Dynamic Systems”are collections of simple units or agents interacting in a system. Large-scale system behaviors may change, evolve, or adapt.
System structure or System structure or patterns patterns emergeemerge from simple from simple interactions of its agentsinteractions of its agents
There is no central control – it There is no central control – it is a is a decentralizeddecentralized system system
The system The system self-organizesself-organizes
Characteristics of Complex Adaptive Systems
Some examples of Complex Adaptive Systems
Global climate patternsGlobal climate patterns A termite moundA termite mound Highway traffic patternsHighway traffic patterns The spread of a disease in a The spread of a disease in a
populationpopulation The evolution of ideas in a The evolution of ideas in a
societysociety A food web in an ecosystemA food web in an ecosystem
How to get started with StarLogo
Download StarLogo from the internet:http://education.mit.edu/starlogo
Copy StarLogo from the CDROM provided at this conference
StarLogo is a free program provided by M.I.T.
or,
StarLogo Learning Resources
The book The websitehttp://education.mit.edu/starlogo
The End