Introducing a Novel Hybrid Agent-Based Framework for Simulating the Adoption of Residential Water Conservation Behaviors
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
ABSTRACT
Promoting household adoption of water conservation behaviors (WCBs) has emerged as a vital strategic response to address water scarcity. Nevertheless, it is imperative to recognize that acceptance of residential WCBs relies on households’ voluntary engagement, as are interventions designed to encourage households to become involved in such actions. Meanwhile, environmental psychology plays a key role in understanding individuals’ WCBs and exploring the psychosocial determinants underlying these behaviors. Furthermore, the spread of technology and behavior among a population are known as a complex adaptive system (CAS), and agent-based modeling (ABM) offers a comprehensive and practical approach to studying CASs. Hence, the main aim of the present research is to introduce a novel, hybrid agent-based framework for simulating the adoption of residential WCBs, in which an extended model of the theory of planned behavior acts as household agents’ behavioral rule for adopting water-efficiency behaviors (WEBs). The framework is also grounded in various theories rooted in psychological and social sciences. Moreover, the presented framework integrates ABM and structural equation modeling approaches. Although this study mainly focuses on WEBs, the framework includes a mechanism to update agents’ water use based on their adoption level of water curtailment behaviors. Thus, the presented framework allows for simultaneously but separately exploring the preferred level of both types of WCBs among household agents. Finally, total water consumption is systematically calculated based on agents’ aggregated behavior.
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Published In
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
Pages: 775 - 788
History
Published online: May 18, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Adaptive systems
- Age factors
- Aging (material)
- Business management
- Deterioration
- Engineering fundamentals
- Human and behavioral factors
- Hybrid methods
- Materials characterization
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Practice and Profession
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Systems engineering
- Systems management
- Water and water resources
- Water conservation
- Water management
- Water policy
- Water shortage
- Water supply
- Webs (structure)
- Workplace diversity
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