Postdoctoral Research Associate at the CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Wageningen University & Research
Currently researcher modelling at Biometris, Wageningen University & Research
modelling,
ecology, foraging, forestry, forest management, water management
scenario analysis
agent based modelling
individual based modelling
model quality, model evaluation, model governance
Research fellow, PhD Candidate (University of Kassel)
Energy system transiton modelling * stakeholder and market modelling, governance and policy modelling, * agent-based modelling (ABM), optimisation, * model coupling, open and integrative modelling framework, * open source, S4F
Flood Risk Management, Coupled Human-Natural System Modelling, Socio-hydrological Modelling, Agent-Based Modelling, Human Behaviour Modelling, Agent-Based Social Simulation, Hydrological and Hydraulic Modeling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Mapping, Risk Modelling and Risk Visualization, Disaster Risk Reduction
Modeling and simulation of complex systems, particularly, interbank networks; economic models and critical phenomena modeling
Distributed computing modeling, multi-agent computing models, economic and financial models, healthcare chronic disease models
Volker Grimm currently works at the Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung. Volker does research in ecology and biodiversity research.
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.