The Holonic Control for Cooperative Distributed Geographic Modeling System

A Cooperative Distributed Geographic Modeling System(CDGMS) is a geographic modeling system where key elements, such as spatial information resources, geographic modeling approaches, assignments, partners and teams, etc., are modeled as ‘holons’ having autonomous and cooperative properties. The distributed geographic resources, the decentralized geographic model formats, the integration of spatial information and modules, and the cooperative relationship among geographers, make the CDGMS a new paradigm, with great potential for meeting today’s agile geographic modeling challenges. Critical issues to be discussed include how to define five types of basic holons for a geographic modeling process, what should be the appropriate system architecture, and how to design effective cooperation control for CDGMS. In this paper, holonic control pattern is developed for a geographer teams consisting of multiple patterns. Relevant holons are identified, and their relationships are delineated through a model of the interactions among partners, teams, assignments, models and resources holons. The cooperation patterns among holons are established based on the holonic control of geographic modeling process. The method thus provides a theoretical foundation for guiding the cooperation among holons, leading to optimal geographic modeling. To support this paper, the use of holonic control technology to design and implement the control management in Cooperative Distributed Geographic Modeling System is discussed.