Abstract
The construction of complex simulation models and the application of new computer hardware to ecological problems has resulted in the need for many ecologists to rely on computer programmers to develop their modelling software. However, this can lead to a lack of flexibility and understanding in model implementation and in resource problems for researchers. This paper presents a new programming language, Viola, based on a simple organisational concept which can be used by most researchers to develop complex simulations much more easily than could be achieved with standard programming languages such as C++. The language is object oriented and implemented through a visual interface. It is specifically designed to cope with complicated individual based behavioural simulations and comes with embedded concurrency handling abilities.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Booch, G. (1994). Object-Oriented Analysis And Design With Applications, 2nd Ed. Benjamin Cummings.
DeAngelis, D. L., D. K. Cox and C. C. Coutant (1979). Cannibalism and size dispersal in young-of-the-year largemouth bass: experiment and model. Ecological Modelling 8: 133–148.
Eaton, R. L. (1943). The Cheetah: The Biology, Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. 178pp.
Harmon, P. (1993). Objects In Action: Commercial Applications Of Object-Oriented Technologies. A-W ISBN 0–201–63336–1.
Holst, N., J. A. Axelsen, J. E. Olesen and P. Ruggle (1997). Object oriented implementation of the metabolic pool model. Ecological Modelling 104: 175–187.
Lubachevsky, B., A. Weiss and A. Schwartz (1991). An analysis of rollback-based simulation, ACM trans. on modelling and comp. simulation (TOMACS) 1: 154–193.
Palmer, J. B. (1992). Hierarchical and concurrent individual based modelling. In: Individual models and approaches in ecology: populations, communities and ecosystems. D. L. DeAngelis and L. J. Gross (eds) Chapman & Hall, New York.
Saarenma, H., N. D Stone, L. J. Folse, J. M. Packhard, W. E. Grant, M. E. Makela and R. N. Coulsen (1988). An artificial intelligence modelling approach to simulating animal/habitat interactions. Ecological Modelling 44: 125–141.
SWARM 1998. http://www.santafe.edu/projects/swarm/release.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Topping, C.J., Rehder, M.J. & Mayoh, B.H. Viola: A New Visual Programming Language Designed for the Rapid Development of Interacting Agent Systems. Acta Biotheor 47, 129–140 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002070223107
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002070223107