Cited by 1Evacuation and Crowd DynamicsCoastal and Marine DynamicsCoastal and Marine Management

Agent-based modelling of beach visitation patterns: insights for sustainable coastal design and management

Open access
Bakhshianlamouki, Elham, Augustijn, Ellen-Wien, Brugnach, Marcela, Voinov, Alexey, Wijnberg, Kathelijne·2025·Environmental Research Communications

Abstract

Coastal areas are complex socio-environmental systems, yet most models focus on biophysical processes, with few addressing social systems or their interaction with biophysical dynamics. This paper introduces an agent-based model (ABM) simulating beach visitor spatial behaviour, considering factors like landscape design and its impact on visitor distribution. We analyse how service and facility placement affects areas with high and low visitation intensity. Tailored for Dutch beaches created by mega-nourishments like the Sand Motor, the model’s modular design allows adaptation to other coastal areas. Qualitative calibration and validation against field data ensured realistic predictions of daily visitor numbers and representation of areas of high and low visitation intensity across the beach. We analysed model sensitivity by varying visitor activities and pathway preference probabilities, finding that pathway probabilities significantly influence visitor choices. The model was also applied to assess the impact of adding an entrance with access to a restaurant and car parking on visitor numbers, affected areas, and impact intensity. Scenario analysis, combined with its application to two case studies with different landscape layouts, highlights the model’s versatility as a valuable tool for designing beaches to effectively explore and manage visitation intensity and its effects on ecological systems, such as vegetation.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1088/2515-7620/adc353

Cites

57 of 57 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Martis, 2006, Validation of simulation based models: a theoretical outlook, Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 4, 39

Authors
Bakhshianlamouki, E., Augustijn, E.-W., Brugnach, M., Voinov, A., & Wijnberg, K.
Affiliations
  • University of Twente (NL)
  • International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (NL)
  • Ikerbasque (ES)
Venue
Environmental Research Communications
Published
2025-04-01
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
045004
ISSN
2515-7620 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4408663401
Cited by
0
References
57
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Research Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Communities in ADDI (University of the Basque Country) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
NWO-ENW (17599)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Evacuation and Crowd Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Coastal and Marine Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Coastal and Marine Management
Keywords
agent-based modeling, coastal landscape design, visitor distribution, mega-nourishment, Sand Motor, coastal zone management, vegetation effects

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