Tools for building a simulation model of the regional timber complex based on the agent-based approach

The article deals with the optimal choice of software for agent-based modeling of the regional timber complex. The relevance of studying the use of various software simulation tools is determined by a significant variety of these tools, which differ from each other in methods, functions, as well as the architecture of model construction. The research novelty consists in solving the problem of optimal choice of software systems for simulating regional timber complex. The article outlines the main advantages and opportunities of the agent-based approach to modeling systems of different levels of complexity. We determine the main modeling parameters using this approach. We also present examples of applying the agent-based approach in modeling economic, social, and technical systems. The main parameters of the agent-based model that have a significant impact on performance and resource intensity are identified. The second part of the article presents the structure of the regional timber complex, identifies its main elements and their characteristics, describes the working processes and significant parameters, and the relationship required to build the model. The main active elements are public institutions for sustainable forest management and forest industry enterprises (logging, wood processing and wood chemistry, including pulp and paper production) consuming forest resources and producing products for sustainable profit. The third part of the article provides an overview of the following software systems for simulation: SciLab, Open Modelica, FlexSim, NetLogo, Enterprise Dynamics, AnyLogic, and Arena. The presented software systems are freely distributed or have a fully functional training version. The article presents a description and the main characteristics of these modeling systems and determines the optimality criteria for comparative analysis of modeling systems based on the evaluation of the modeling object (regional timber complex). The analysis revealed the main features of modeling systems for each of the criteria. It is concluded that the optimal software tool for building a prototype agent-based model of the regional timber complex is AnyLogic system, provided that the model size corresponds to the limitations of the personal version of the system.