On Performance Improvement Techniques and Geospatial Data Visualisation of Large Scale Agent-Based Models: A Case Study on Computational Simulation of an Old World Screwworm Fly Invasion of Australia

Abstract

The Old World Screwworm Fly (OWSWF), 'Chrysomya bezziana', is an insect pest that is endemic to the tropical regions of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, that reproduces by laying its eggs in open wounds and mucus membranes on warm blooded mammals. Upon hatching, the OWSWF larvae eat the living flesh of the host animal, causing injury, secondary infections and in extreme cases death. If this pest was introduced to the Australian mainland, it could have a devastating impact on the livestock industries within the northern regions of Australia. In order to plan and respond to the threat of the introduction of this pest into the Australian mainland, government authorities require a modelling capability to support both decision making and policy creation. This thesis builds upon the existing research surrounding the OWSWF biological lifecycle and dispersal characteristics to develop a national-scale, high-resolution, agent-based model that simulates an invasion of Australia by the OWSWF.