Google Summer of Code 2011 Organization Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan

Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan

Web Page: http://www.cscs.umich.edu/~rlr/SoC/

Mailing List:

The Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS) is a broadly interdisciplinary unit within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA) of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. CSCS's mission is to encourage and facilitate research and education in the general area of nonlinear, dynamical and adaptive systems. Participating faculty represent nearly every college of the University. The Center is based on the recognition that many different kinds of systems which include self-regulation, feedback or adaptation in their dynamics, may have a common underlying structure despite their apparent differences. Moreover, these deep structural similarities can be exploited to transfer methods of analysis and understanding from one field to another. In addition to developing deeper understandings of specific systems, interdisciplinary approaches should help elucidate the general structure and behavior of complex systems, and move us toward a deeper appreciation of the general nature of such systems.

Our official GSoC code repository can be found here: http://code.google.com/p/google-summer-of-code-2011-cscs/

We also plan to have a Repast "community library" site to store and distribute models, "demos" and other software contributed by Repast users (in addition to those created by GSoC interns).

Projects

'''Project #1: Create Agent Based Model "Demos" using Repast Symphony. I would be extremely interested in joining the development of Repast Simphony in Project #1: Create Agent Based Model "Demos" using Repast Symphony during GSoC 2011. I am a PhD student, and my research activities and work focuses on various aspects and applications of Agent-Based Simulations. This is an outstanding possibility I would really like to attend to.
Create Agent Based Model "Demos" Using Repast Simphony A collection of approximately eight agent-based models will be developed and implemented in Repast Simphony (RepastS). The models will demonstrate the capabilities of RepastS, illustrate the use of different toolkits, and identify features that could be improved or added to RepastS. Comprehensive documentation will also be provided to facilitate understanding and learning by other users.
Create Agent Based Model "Demos" using Repast Simphony The project aims at developing “demo” models (code along with internal and external documentation) to strengthen the RepastS Library. RepastS is a modeling and simulating software. The models will help in better understanding to the software and various phenomenon modeled. They will act as templates or basic units that can be used to incorporate various possibilities thus developing a complex model. Documentation will help in explaining the parameters and underlying theory.
Demonstrating Agent-based Models This project aims to create agent-based models using Repast Symphony for demonstration purposes, as well as how-to videos to show users, both potential and existing, the capabilities of the tool.
Development of Agent Based Model Demos for Repast Simphony A key factor for the instructional value of ABM software is the quality and quantity of preloaded demo models, in order to provide new users learning material and "code bases" to build upon. This proposal aims to expand the models library of Repast Simphony to enhance new user instruction and experience. Further development and testing of RepastS is a secondary goal which will accompany the production of demo ABM's.
Project #1: Create Agent Based Model "Demos" using Repast Simphony Some ideas for models of Complex Adaptive Systems: -Flocking simulator: recreate the boids flocking simulator, with sliders for number of boids, distance to maintain from neighbors, response time to changes in direction, etc. -Ant foraging: a number of ants explore the map randomly until they encounter a food source. Foragers then find the optimal path to the food because of stochastic variation -others: penguin huddle, traffic, morphogenesis, cellular automata, three-bodies problem, ...
Repast Simphony Demo Models The Repast Simphony (RepastS) 2.0 Beta version currently needs well-documented demo-models to help introduce users to building complex adaptive systems with RepastS. These demos will also be served as a testing suite on new features. Using examples from the NetLogo models library or its user community models, ten or more models can be created over the GSoC session. The deliverables include the coded models and documentation.