Modeling and Simulation of Information Flow: A Study of Infodynamic Quantities
Abstract
Research shows that an analytical solution of information velocity is intractable but metrics that support understanding the factors that affect information flow can be useful. This paper describes an agent-based model for information flow that explores physical analogs to the metric's causal measures. Interactions and exchanges are modeled as physical properties. Information, its suppliers, and consumers are treated as agent particles. Visibility of information and need are treated as attraction. The barriers to communication as well as the perception of cultural risk are treated as repulsive forces that oppose information exchange. The amount of human-to-human communication is modeled as the maximum distance beyond which information cannot be exchanged (e.g. closeness). The behavior of the particles and system as a whole are discussed vis-a-vis physical properties such as particles in a fluid, momentum, velocity, force, and temperature. Infodynamic and analogs of thermodynamic and other physical quantities associated with these processes are explored. These comparisons may enable a method to combine the various information measures into one or two equations using conceptual analogs from the physical domain with possible applications to improve information flow in command centers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA525261
Entities
People
- Jeff Waters
- Marion G. Ceruti
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command