Modelling of Water Use Decisions in a Large, Spacially Explicit, Coupled Simulation System

Abstract

This chapter presents the purpose, the basic concepts, the implementation, and a scenario run of the agent-based part of a large Decision Support System for the water resources management of the Upper Danube basin, Western Europe. 16 process models from 11 disciplines from the natural and the social sciences are integrated in the system. They use common spatial and temporal concepts to communicate with each other at run time. A variety of agents based on large scale empirical evidence serves to model the drinking water use of households. An example scenario run under global warming conditions shows the interplay between modelled water supply companies, households, climate, and groundwater resources.