Application of Intelligent Agent for Developing an Artificial GIS City

This paper describes a method for simulating the interactions of different human recreators in a complex natural environment by integrating intelligent agents and geographic information systems (GIS). The purpose of this model is to assist recreation planners and managers to evaluate a set of alternative management scenarios that i) alter the scheduling of recreators as they enter a park; ii) increase or decrease the size or access to facilities such as roads and trails, parking lots, visitor centres or camp grounds; or iii) separate recreators onto different roads and trails. By simulating the behavior of different agents in a virtual environment as described by GIS, it is possible to manipulate the number and type of agents, and characteristics of the environment to stud y the dynamic relationships between the two systems. This provides park managers with an insight into the probable effects of a given management scenario on user flows and satisfaction.