Socio-hydrology from the bottom up: A template for agent-based modeling in irrigation systems

Abstract. Based on a review of key concepts in agent-based modeling for irrigation systems and coupled human-water systems in general, this study presents a proof of concept of an agent-based model based on the existing Irrigation Management Game. After the modeling philosophy and main characteristics are outlined, a number of pilot applications are presented and evaluated. Following the evaluation of the results, future steps that could be incorporated in the model are discussed. The proposed template offers a bottom-up approach to socio-hydrological modelling design, as individual agent behavior explicitly co-shapes the response of the water system, which allows the discovery of emergent dynamics and the conditions under which these are produced. The concepts explained and modeled at a proof-of-concept level in this work serve as a call to the socio-hydrological community to expand its modeling efforts to the agent level.