Divide and conquer: A four-fold docking experience of agent-based models

Verification and validation (V&V) techniques are used in agent-based modeling (ABM) to determine whether the model is an accurate representation of the real system. Docking is a form of V&V that tries to align multiple simulation models. In a previous paper, we described the docking process of an ABM that simulates the life cycle of Anopheles gambiae. Results showed that the implementations were docked for adult but not for aquatic mosquito populations. In this paper, following the ‘Divide and Conquer’ paradigm, we compartmentalize the simulation world to prohibit the propagation of errors between compartments. Using four separate implementations that sprung from the same core model, we describe a series of docking experiments, analyze the results, and show how they lead to a successful dock. The complete four-fold docking encompasses verification between the four implementations, as well as validation against the core model with respect to these implementations.