There is still insufficient understanding of the various ways in which human and natural processes lead to complex land use and cover patterns that have emerged around us. Comprehensive knowledge about adaptive land use systems is indispensable to a solid basis for policymaking.
This book aims to refine the theoretical basis for studying human behaviour in a spatial context, in order to understand land use changes and the emergence of land use patterns. Within this context is discusses the issues of sustainable development, interdisciplinary research, integrated modelling and complexity. In addittion, agent-based models are introduced. These models include aspects of economic theory, complexity theory and decision rules, and show that it is possible the generate macrolevel land use patterns from microlevel spartial decision rules.
Henriëtte Otter is a research associate at the Integrated Modelling Section of the Department of Civil Engineering and Management (CT&M) at the University of Twente.
