On the Suitability of NetLogo for the Modeling of Civilian Assistance and Guerrilla Warfare

Abstract

This report presents a pilot study of the suitability of NetLogo, an agent-based software tool, in modelling guerilla warfare. In this study, a local civilian populace reports observed insurgent activity to peacekeepers with varying levels of enthusiasm depending on the reputation of the peacekeepers with those local populaces. A simulation model is developed in NetLogo to assess the suitability of an agent-based approach for studying the complex interactions between the civilian populace, peacekeepers and insurgents. Differences in the simulation outputs, contrasting the benefits of civilian assistance in peacekeeping operations, are tested for statistical significance using a number of Monte Carlo simulations. NetLogo is shown to be capable of modelling a subset of the physical, social and behavioural interactions in guerilla warfare and in that capacity is useful for developing conceptual models and providing insights into the nature of guerilla warfare in low-fidelity preliminary studies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA434057

Entities

People

  • Scott Wheeler

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agent-Based Simulations
  • Algorithms
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Australia
  • Combat Areas
  • Computer Science
  • Guerrilla Warfare
  • Operations Research
  • Probability
  • Reliability
  • Simulations
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Stochastic Processes
  • Systems Science
  • Universities
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.