A Logical Characterization of Individual-Based Models

Individual-based models are a relatively new approach to modelling dynamical systems of interacting entities, for example molecules in a biological cell. Although they are computationally expensive, they have the capability of modelling systems more realistically than traditional statevariable models. We give a formal definition of individualbased models, which includes state-variable models as a special case. We examine the questions of when statevariable models are sufficient for accurate modelling of a system, and when individual-based models are necesdefine notions of abstraction and approximation, and give sufficient conditions that imply that an individualbased model can be approximated by a deterministic statevariable model. We also give negative results: examples of individual-based models that cannot be approximated by any state-variable model.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: LICS
• Authors: James F. Lynch
• Keywords: Computer Science, Individual-based Models, Individualbased Model, LICS 2008, Statevariable Model