Advances in Earth Science ›› 2021, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (9): 899-910. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2021.089

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Progress and Prospect of Agent-Based Modeling for Water Resources Management

Shiwei YUAN 1, 4( ),Xin LI 2, 3, 4( ),Erhu DU 5   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing of Gansu Province,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science,Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
    3.Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
    4.University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
    5.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen 518055,China
  • Received:2021-06-30 Revised:2021-08-13 Online:2021-09-10 Published:2021-10-15
  • Contact: Xin LI E-mail:yuansw@lzb.ac.cn;xinli@itpcas.ac.cn
  • About author:YUAN Shiwei (1992- ), male, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, Ph.D student. Research areas include watershed resources management. E-mail: yuansw@lzb.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China "Responses of eco-hydrological processes to climate change in the permafrost region of the source of the Yellow River"(41630856);"Study on the influence mechanism of agricultural water resources management on hydrological process in arid region"(51909118)

Shiwei YUAN, Xin LI, Erhu DU. Progress and Prospect of Agent-Based Modeling for Water Resources Management[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2021, 36(9): 899-910.

Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) has proved to be an efficient and powerful tool to study coupled human and natural systems. In recent years, the use of ABM to track water resources management issues is increasingly popular. Based on the review at the interface of ABM and water resources management studies, the techniques, progresses, advantages and limitations are summarized. Three topic areas are identified, addressing different research issues in the field: urban water resources management, agricultural water resources management and integrated watershed water resources management. Overall, with ABM, human decisions and behaviors are linked with water systems. The underlying feedback mechanisms between human and water systems can be revealed and used for policy and strategy planning. However, there still exist some limitations that need to be improved through the following ways. Firstly, more realistic human decision rules are certainly needed. Machine learning and big data techniques can be applied for this purpose. Additionally, the validation and evaluation methods suitable for ABM should be developed and enhanced. Furthermore, it is recommended to continuously conduct researches at a representative basin to advance the application of ABM for water resources management. More importantly, multi-disciplines collaborations such as involving more social and psychological sciences in ABM should be promoted. In conclusion, ABM provides a new insight to deal with water resources management issues. Strengthening the application of ABM in water resources management could promote the sustainable management and development of water resources around the world.

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