Agent based model for understanding cycling in traditional UK Cities: A GIS based approach

Introduction / Rationale

This study seeks to study constraints and develop strategies for cycling in traditional UK Cities by harnessing concepts, tools and theories from Geographic Information Science (GISc), Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Position System (GPS) and Agent Based Model (ABM) simulation by (way of testing) incorporating both PECS (Physical conditions, Emotional states, Cognitive capabilities and Social status) and BDI (Beliefs-Desires-Intentions) framework. Activities in transport as well as the design of the built environment can be fundamentally associated with sustainability of communities, especially in urban areas. Moreover, urban design influences accessibility to space where occurrence of various activities emerges; one example is Active Transport. Mainly, Active Transport covers cycling and walking but may include other activities such as use of public transport. Recently, according to (Foresight, 2007) report, it is forecasted that over half of adults in Britain could be obese by 2050 unless some measures are adhered to. One aspect of the (adoptable and implementable) measures in the report that is of interest here is with respect to transport and urban design; namely, to include increasing of cycling and improving of design of communities.