Custom Software
Given each simulation component provides a means for providing and editing
its data, the responsibility of the application framework is twofold.
Firstly to provide a means to view the state of each component, and secondly
to edit this data.
Since we are dealing with a spatial system, there is considerable amount
of information available per timestep. Not only is there information in
the static context, even more important than the information at each state,
is how this information changes from one state to another; this information
is best represented graphically. I have chosen to build the simulation
upon a Multiple Document Interface (MDI), this allows multiple documents
(simulations) to be open at a time. This is especially useful if we wish
to compare the results of two environments, with different rule-sets or
subtle environment changes (to crowd density, or floor layout).
Each document window provides a looking glass into the state of the environment, but in order for any useful work to be done, we would like a means to directly edit any of the components making up the simulation. This could entail drawing in new walls, or changing a rule-set mid simulation -- clearly this is a necessary requirement of the simulation.
Editing Environment
As a means of editing the environment, the user may draw directly onto the window. This is provides instantaneous adding, or removing of walls to the environment by changing the specific cells state accordingly. This ability is especially useful as it allows one to make subtle changes to an environment via simple mouse drags, and then view how these changes affect the flow of the pedestrians. This feature has practical applications to architects and engineers alike who may wish to alleviate bottlenecks by increasing door widths but are uncertain as to whether the increased flow has negative repercussion further `down stream'. Better flow of pedestrians within the building could cause new bottlenecks at crucial exits.
Ruleset Editor
Fundamental to this project is determining the validity of rule-sets governing the movements of CA pedestrians. Since I will be designing and tweaking rule-sets, it makes sense to have a rule-set editor to provide full access to all aspects of a rule-set. The editor edits the rule-sets directly, this means that changes are instantaneous and the pedestrians immediately act to the changes. This is useful as it allows the designer to visually see how subtle changes to rules affect the flow of pedestrians.
The rule-set editor provides a simplistic interface where all the information is available on a single dialog. The appropriate rule-set can be chosen by a drop down box, and all of the rules are listed. All conditions for the highlighted rule are filled into the listbox to the right of the rules, and for the selected condition, the position, state and the rule objective are shown graphically and may be changed via a mouse click
Editing environment
Ruleset Editor