Geographic information systems (GIS) foundation including complex environmental drivers Resource extraction, growth, and population interaction modules Demographic structure modules Epidemic structure modules Populations of agents that may include:
internal states (physical/structural, physiological, immunological) connectance matrices (feeding, social, etc.) perceptual kernels (process specific: visual, olfactory, auditory, etc.) brain modules (input: perceptual, other neural modules, internal states, memory) behavioral modules (movement, consumption related, mate choice, mating etc.) reproduction modules (output of propagules, production of young, investment) genome modules (genetic mapping of parameters, inheritance processes, genetic algorithms)
A simulation engine that has:
Modularity (object oriented chip design) Hierarchical/nested scalability (unpacking parameters, packing models) Interchangeability (swapping chips doing the same task with differing complexity) Parameter estimation procedures for applying to both individual modules and full models Model selection procedures using information theory to minimize parameters
Data manipulation and visualization procedures
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Set up a user community (e.g. societies, journals, websites, workshops) to:
set standards for publishing CPB studies develop protocols for naming modules and models develop protocols for sharing modules, models, data, and software
Develop protocols for communicating model structure that include:
a list of modules used with specification of their function, data developed and software implementation, as well as information on input and output structures connectance topologies, numbers of modules used, and a description of how module parameter values were specified or generated complete mathematical and coding details of new modules used specifications of GIS layers and environmental inputs
Protocols for validating modules should include:
a documented list of publications that have used the module. an associated file (e.g. a wiki) that documents the history of the module in terms of code quality and verification tests, modifications that have been made, etc.
Efforts to facilitate comparative studies should include
specifications for standardized output structures (in addition to study specific output) identification of existing and needed baseline studies documents (e.g. wiki) that contain a list of all modules performing a particular task, a comparative discussion of their relative complexity and input requirements
More attention must be paid to developing software to fulfill educational needs and providing powerful tools for the CPB user community.
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