Volker Grimm
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research
Department of Ecological
Modelling
Building 1.0, Room 211 
map
Tel: +49 (0) 341 235 1711
Fax: +49 (0) 341 235 1473
Postal address:
Permoserstr. 15
D-04318 Leipzig
E-mail:
volker.grimm@ufz.de
NEW: 
Download draft chapters of
new textbook on agent-based modelling!
NEW: Download Jan Thiele's new R-extension for NetLogo!
REGISTER: Summer school in individual-
and agent-based modelling!
Research Interests
- How to model it: Ecological models, in particular simulation models, often seem to be formulated ad hoc and only poorly analysed. I am therefore interested in strategies and methods for making ecological modelling more coherent and efficient. The ultimate aim is to develop preditive models that provide mechanstic understanding of ecological systems and that are transparent and structurally realistic enough to support environmental decision making.
- Pattern-oriented modelling: This is a general strategy of using multiple patterns observed in real systems as multiple criteria for chosing model structure, selecting among alternative submodels, and inversely determining entire sets of unknown model parameters.
- Individual-based and agent-based modelling: For many, if not most, ecological questions individual-level aspects can be decisive for explaining system-level behavior. IBM/ABMs allow to represent individual heterogeneity, local interactions, and/or adaptive behaviour
- Ecological theory and concepts: I am particularly interested in exploring stability properties like resilience and persistence.
- Modelling for ecological applications: Pattern-oriented modelling allows to develop structurally realistic models, which can be used to support decision making and the management of biodiversity and natural resources. Currently, I am involved in the EU project CREAM, where a suite of population models is developed for pesticide risk assessment.
- Standards for model communication and formulation: In 2006, we published
a general protocol for describing individual- and agent-based models, called the
ODD protocol (Overview, Design concepts, details). ODD turned out to be more useful
(and needed) than we expected. An update of the protocol and its
description was submitted in September 2009 (for further details, see
ODD website). In the CREAM project,
we will try to extend the idea of ODD to all types of models and the entire modelling process.
Current Projects
-
CREAM(Mechanistic Effect Models for Ecological Risk Assessment of Chemicals): This is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, funded by the European Commission. CREAM is a network of 13 partner institutions and 8 associated partners from industry and regulatory authorities. In 20 PhD and 3 postdoc projects, a suite of population models will be developed for a wide range of organisms and systems (aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates fish, birds, and mammals). I am the coordinator of this project. CREAM started on September 1, 2009, and will run for four years. ( CREAM
website).
- Textbook on agent-based modelling, based on NetLogo: Steve
Railsback from Humboldt State University, California, and I are writing a
textbook on individual-/agent- based modelling which is based on the software
platform NetLogo. The book is for undergraduate and graduate students (and
their instructors) from any discipline where agentbased models are used. Drafts chapters are available
for download, testing, and commenting here:
ABM textbook website.
-
PATRES (Pattern Resilience): In PATRES, an EC-funded project with partners from France, England, Spain, and Germany, a group of computer scientists, mathematicians, social scientists, physicists, and ecologists is trying to develop and test methods for assessing the resilience and viability of ecological systems. A main activity is to aggregate simulation models to simple mathematical models. The models used in PATRES address bacteria population dynamics, the dynamics of bi-lingual system, group dynamics in Internet communities like WiKi and Flickr, bibliometric studies, and savanna dynamics. In this project, from the UFZ side we are working on savanna dynamics and on a common format for formulating and communicating individual-based models. PATRES will end on January 31, 2010. ( PATRES website).
- Many other projects, including generic models of forest fire ecosystems (Richard Zinck), formulation of a guidance document of Good Modelling Practice (Amelie Schmolke), and quite a few specific models on, e.g. colony patterns in storks, survivial of populations of the African wild dog, etc.
