RNETLOGO: an R package for running and exploring individual‐based models implemented in NETLOGO

Abstract

Summary 1. NetLogo is a free software platform for implementing individual‐based and agent‐based models. However, NetLogo ’s support of systematic design, performance and analysis of simulation experiments is limited. The statistics software R includes such support. 2. RNetLogo is an R package that links R and NetLogo : any NetLogo program can be controlled and run from R and model results can be transferred back to R for statistical analyses. RNetLogo includes 16 functions, which are explained and demonstrated in the user manual and tutorial. The design of RNetLogo was inspired by a similar link between Mathematica and NetLogo . 3. RNetLogo is a powerful tool for making individual‐based modelling more efficient and less ad hoc . It links two fast growing user communities and constitutes a new interface for integrating descriptive statistical analyses and individual‐based modelling.