Comparison of a microscopic and a macroscopic age-dependent SIR model. Issue 2 (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bicher, M.; Popper, N.; Schneckenreither, G.
• Is Part Of: Mathematical and computer modelling of dynamical systems. Volume 23:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: Agent-based modelling -- epidemic model -- aggregation -- mean-field modelling -- mean-field theorem -- Markov process; Engineering -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Computer simulation -- Periodicals; 515.39
• DOI: 10.1080/13873954.2016.1232279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1387-3954

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this work, we compare two structurally different modelling approaches for the simulation of an age-dependent SIR (susceptible, infected, recovered)-type epidemic spread: a microscopic agent-based model and a macroscopic integro-partial differential equation model. Doing so, we put a newly derived mean-field theorem for mixed state-spaces (continuous and discrete) to the test, analytically proving the asymptotic equivalence of the results of both simulations on the aggregate level. Afterwards, both models are executed and compared for abstract scenarios to affirm the derived equivalence. As both models are hereby proven to deliver (asymptotically) the same results, they can be used to supplement each other in terms of structural knowledge of the model, identification and determination of parameters and their values, as well as finally verification and validation.