Simulation platform of human-environment systems for water environment carrying capacity research

This paper established a simulation platform for human-environment systems based on multiagent systems for water environment carrying capacity research. The platform’s purpose is to study and present the water environment carrying capacity from four dimensions, i.e., Scale, Structure, Pattern and Technology. The framework is presented according to the standard Overview, Design concepts, Details protocol. The modeling functions from the four dimensions are demonstrated via a case application in Changzhou City of the Taihu Lake region, China. We compared this platform with previous research methods of determining the water environment carrying capacity research. The comparison shows that the uniqueness of the platform lies in its ability to reveal the water environment carrying capacity from the four dimensions and provide detailed and various routes for human-environment sustainability. The framework could be applied to research on any type of human-environment system.