In Agent-Based Models (ABMs), agents perceive their environment through various mechanisms, which can include sensory inputs, internal states, and communication with other agents. The specific methods by which agents perceive their environment depend on the design of the model and the objectives of the simulation.
Agents may have sensory capabilities that allow them to perceive aspects of their environment, such as visual, auditory, or tactile information. For example, in a simulation of pedestrian movement, agents may perceive the presence of obstacles, other pedestrians, or changes in terrain through simulated vision or proximity sensors.
Agents may perceive information about their immediate surroundings, often within a limited range or field of view. This local information can include the presence of neighboring agents, the availability of resources, or the state of the environment within a certain radius of the agent.
Agents can be aware of:
- The cell on which the are located
- The cell on which they are located and the direct environment of this cell
- The area that is enclosed by visual boundaries (e.g. walls in a building)
- The complete environment