Playground Wars -Territorial conflict simulation model

International audience A novel model designed to simulate local conflicts within social groups, which has significant implications for understandingsocial dynamics and fostering conflict-resilient urban spaces has been designed. The model utilizes agent-based simulationtechniques to explore how interpersonal interactions, rooted in individual experiences and spatial awareness, biological concepts such as kin selection (Hamilton Rule) and trusted network (Dunbar Numbers), influence collaboration and conflictwithin communities.The model’s input data include predefined agent parameters, such as Gender (G), initial Level of Collaboration (LC), Level ofDanger (LD), Base of Kinship, Base of Dunbar Numbers, and a Base of Known Spatial Elements (BSE). These parametersevolve dynamically over the course of the simulation. As agents move through a shared environment, they continuouslyexpand their knowledge of spatial elements (BSE) and update their LC and LD levels based on individual experiences,creating an adaptive feedback loop.A key feature of the model is the agent interaction process, triggered when two agents encounter each other within a specifiedproximity. This interaction, referred to as a "Meeting" initiates a sequence of cognitive and behavioral processes where bothagents (X and Y) assess the interaction based on their prior experiences and existing perceptions. Each agent perceives theoutcome of the meeting differently, producing an individual Meeting Outcome (IMO) that can be either positive or negative.The subjective nature of these interactions allows for divergent outcomes for the participants, even from the same encounter.The IMO plays a crucial role in shaping future interactions. The agents adjust their attitudes towards subsequent meetings,influencing their LC and LD parameters. This process not only affects their interactions with new agents but also alters theirperception of agents already catalogued in their Base of Dunbar Numbers. As a result, the model simulates the evolution ofsocial relationships and the potential escalation or de-escalation of conflict over time.The presented model provides a valuable tool for examining the dynamics of social conflict and its spatial context. Byanalysing agent interactions and the development of territorial behaviours, the model can be applied to the design of conflict-resilient urban spaces and communities. The insights gained from these simulations offer urban planners and designers adeeper understanding of how social conflicts emerge, how they spread, and how spaces can be structured to mitigate tensions,fostering healthier, more collaborative environments. This research bridges the fields of architecture, urban planning, andbehavioural psychology by integrating knowledge from human sciences into spatial design methodologies. It highlights theimportance of considering human behaviour in the context of territoriality and space, contributing to the development ofenvironments that promote social cohesion and minimize the potential for conflict.Through this model, we aim to provide architects and urban designers with an innovative tool for analysing and improvingthe social dynamics of urban spaces, ultimately contributing to safer and more harmonious communities.