Microsimulation

Microsimulation is the use of computerized analytical tools to perform analysis of activities such as highway traffic flowing through an intersection, financial transactions, or pathogens spreading disease through a population on the granularity level of individuals. Synonyms include microanalytic simulation^[1] and microscopic simulation.^[2] Microsimulation, with its emphasis on stochastic or rule-based structures, should not be confused with the similar complementary technique of multi-agent simulation, which focuses more on the behaviour of individuals.^[3]

For example, a traffic microsimulation model could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of lengthening a turn lane at an intersection, and thus help decide whether it is worth spending money on actually lengthening the lane.

^ Orcutt, Guy H.; Caldwell, Steven; Wertheimer, Richard F. (1976). Policy Exploration Through Microanalytic Simulation. The Urban Institute. ISBN 978-0-87766-169-6.
^ Rakha, H.; Van Aerde, M.; Bloomberg, L.; Huang, X. (January 1998). "Construction and Calibration of a Large-Scale Microsimulation Model of the Salt Lake Area". Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 1644 (1): 93–102. doi:10.3141/1644-10. ISSN 0361-1981.
^ Birkin, Mark; Wu, Belinda (2012). "A Review of Microsimulation and Hybrid Agent-Based Approaches". Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems. Springer Netherlands: 51–68. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-8927-4_3. ISBN 978-90-481-8926-7.

[1] Orcutt, Guy H.; Caldwell, Steven; Wertheimer, Richard F. (1976). Policy Exploration Through Microanalytic Simulation. The Urban Institute. ISBN 978-0-87766-169-6.

[2] Rakha, H.; Van Aerde, M.; Bloomberg, L.; Huang, X. (January 1998). "Construction and Calibration of a Large-Scale Microsimulation Model of the Salt Lake Area". Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 1644 (1): 93–102. doi:10.3141/1644-10. ISSN 0361-1981.

[3] Birkin, Mark; Wu, Belinda (2012). "A Review of Microsimulation and Hybrid Agent-Based Approaches". Agent-Based Models of Geographical Systems. Springer Netherlands: 51–68. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-8927-4_3. ISBN 978-90-481-8926-7.

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