Applying a Multi-Agent Model to Evaluate Effects of Development Proposals and Growth Management Policies on Suburban Sprawl

Suburban and exurban sprawl is a major challenge facing regions worldwide. Residential sprawl and the accompanying commercial development stress municipalities providing services such as clean water, waste management, and fire and police protection. The dynamics of expanding development is influenced by complex interactions among human stakeholders and how stakeholders respond to feedback from the consequences of development decisions. This paper presents a multi-agent model coupled with a GIS-based land-use potential model that can be used by municipal policy makers to examine development scenarios. The model represents a region within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (Texas, U.S.A.) facing intense residential development. Development of the model and the scenarios analyzed were done in collaboration with staff and elected officials from the City of Denton – a municipality in the midst of rapid suburban sprawl.