Simulating the Behaviours of Urban Negotiators Using Agent-based Modelling

Abstract

In urban planning, stakeholders with different interests are often involved in decision making. They negotiate to reach a joint decision. How stakeholders negotiate can have a considerable impact on urban systems. This research aims at understanding the potential of simulating the behaviours of urban negotiators using agent-based modelling. It explores the challenges that might be involved in simulating the behaviours of urban negotiators and the benefits that might return to planning research and practice from having such simulations. Two simulation models of affordable housing negotiations in the English planning system were developed. The first is a non-deterministic model which can help in generating research hypotheses about how changes in behaviours might affect the outcomes of urban negotiations. The second is a reasoning model which illustrates the concept of reasoning and emotions in negotiations. Simulation experiments were run on each model to explore its usefulness. Group discussions and questionnaires were held with stakeholders in the English planning system to evaluate their perception and willingness to use the reasoning model in practice. The research shows that developing models of urban negotiation behaviours requires studying a different and broad field of knowledge on negotiation studies and making several assumptions to design a conceptual framework for the models. However, the models showed that they can generate novel insights into urban negotiations. Discussions with urban stakeholders also showed a general acceptance of the usefulness of simulating urban negotiations.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Richard Kingston (Supervisor) & Nuno Pinto (Supervisor)