Simulating the forest fuel market as a socio‐ecological system with spatial agent‐based methods: A case study in Carinthia, Austria

Abstract

The paper presents an agent-based modeling and simulation approach to model the forest fuel supply chain for heating purposes (i.e., heating plants). The paper focuses on the simulation of the processes of timber harvesting by forest enterprises and the competition of heating plants for the limited resource of wood chips. In particular, the work identifies different stakeholders having an adaptive behavior-with respect to the overall market conditions and timber prices. The agent-based model developed here-called SimFoMa-uses three types of agents-forest enterprises, heating plants, and traders. The agents are interacting in an environment that has rich information on the forests and road network. The SimFoMa model is applied to a test area, the province of Carinthia, Austria. We defined six different simulation scenarios that cover different market situations-from increasing timber prices, volatile market conditions, or decreasing market conditions-and evaluated the harvest patterns, transport distances and the forest itself. The paper utilizes the agent-based modeling methodology to model the agent's adaptive behavior of

Exploring potential diffusion pathways of biorefinery innovations—An agent‐based simulation approach for facilitating shared value creation

“…With respect to innovation diffusion ABMs, to date, the main areas of application for ABMs have been agriculture, transportation, energy, and environmental innovation (Kiesling et al, 2012). There are, for example, agent-based approaches on specific wood markets which, while not explicitly relating to biorefinery operations, do include industrial/pulp wood consumers in some way (e.g., Holm et al, 2018aHolm et al, , 2018bKostadinov et al, 2014;Scholz et al, 2020). In the area of biorefineries and related innovation diffusion processes, most research papers deal with the topic of biofuels (e.g., Günther et al, 2011;Moncada et al, 2017;Stummer et al, 2015;van Tol et al, 2021;Yang et al, 2022).…”

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“…Значительные возможности для решения проблемы эффективного использования лесных ресурсов территорий предоставляет инструментарий агент-ориентированного моделирования (Гулин, Антонов, 2017;Huff et al, 2015). Его весомым преимуществом является возможность учитывать динамику изменения характеристик исследуемых сущностей во времени и их пространственного размещения, а также структуру взаимосвязей между исследуемыми сущностями (Arifin, Madey, 2015;Janssen, 2017;Scholz et al, 2017;Holm et al, Fitzpatrick, 2018;Zupko, Rouleau, 2019;Scholz et al, 2021;Sotnik et al, 2021). Проблема заключается в том, что построение таких моделей осуществляется без использования формализованной методологической основы.…”

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Carbon Pricing Research in Austria

“…According to the authors of [88], the key drivers for land-use change are agricultural funding policies, market prices and climate conditions. In this context, the authors of [90] propose an agent-based model to model the forest supply of timber in different market conditions in the province of Carinthia, Austria. The authors conclude that to reduce the carbon footprint of timber for heating purposes, traders should use resources close to the heating plant [90].…”

“…In this context, the authors of [90] propose an agent-based model to model the forest supply of timber in different market conditions in the province of Carinthia, Austria. The authors conclude that to reduce the carbon footprint of timber for heating purposes, traders should use resources close to the heating plant [90]. Besides, more efficient harvest techniques can reduce the carbon footprint of energy-intensive production systems during Austrian winters [91].…”