Toward an integrated framework for multidimensional and multi-scale simulation of agro-ecosystem

This paper provides the description of the first step of development of an integrated platform for agro-ecosystem simulation. Specifically, this study intends to provide a framework for an explicit representation of social, economic, biophysical and political dimensions of agricultural at different scales of analysis using the component-based simulation approach. First, a meta-model for model integration has been proposed. Secondly a conceptual model for agro-ecosystem representation has been proposed. Based on that and the meta-model, an integrated framework for models integration has been developed using a component-based simulation approach. The OpenMi Java based SDK has been extended to develop the integrated framework. Mimosa scheduler for models simulations has been used to develop the scheduler of the integrated framework. Finally, an integrated framework for agro-ecosystem simulation has been developed. Unlike most integrated platform, the present framework is not restrict to one scale and context. The proposed approach avoids aggregation and disaggregation of information between scales which cause loss of information as in most agriculture models. A case study shows the effectiveness of the framework to simulate the agro-ecosystem of West-Africa at different scales.