Conceptualizing the evolution of Tmor-Da using an agent based model

Abstract

The urban dynamics observable in an informal settlement are akin to the characteristics of a complex adaptive system. In this paper, we describe an Agent-Based Model designed to simulate the urban dynamics of an informal settlement, Tmor-Da, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The overarching goal was to understand the possible rules that guided the development of built forms and the use of residue spaces in Tmor-Da. A series of simulation experiments were used to examine alternative hypotheses derived from field work and desktop analysis related to morphological changes associated with spatial units, including homes, shops, the orphanage, church and temple. The results suggest that the complex, emerge..