Modeling human decisions in coupled human and natural systems: Review of agent-based models

Coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) manifest various complexities such as heterogeneity, non-linearity, feedback, and emergence. Humans play a critical role in affecting such systems and in giving rise to various environmental consequences, which may in turn affect future human decisions and behavior. In light of complexity theory and its application in CHANS, this paper reviews various decision models used in agent based simulations of CHANS dynamics, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. This paper concludes by advocating development of more process-based decision models as well as protocols or architectures that facilitate better modeling of human decisions in various CHANS. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.