ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the various interpretations and uses of the term ‘spatial microsimulation’. Spatial microsimulation is well-suited to the analysis of complex phenomena which happen over geographical space, such as transport systems and housing markets. Because it includes the creation of synthetic data, the method is well-suited to situations in which available data are limited. Spatial microsimulation is a way to combine the advantages of individual level data with the geographical specificity of geographical data. If used correctly, it can be used to provide ‘the best of both worlds’ of available data by combining them into a single analysis. SimCity is a popular computer game series in which the player constructs urban infrastructure and observes his God-like influence on the virtual citizens. The most common confusion about what spatial microsimulation is arises because the term has been used to refer to both a narrow methodology and a broader research approach.