CRAFTY-UI: Bridging Complexity and Usability in Large-scale Agent-Based Land-Use Modelling for Earth System Science

Earth system science increasingly relies on complex, high-dimensional datasets from advanced modelling and remote sensing. Transforming these data into actionable insights for stakeholders and decision-makers beyond academia remains a major challenge. In response, we developed a novel, open-source graphical user interface (GUI) for the CRAFTY (Competition for Resources between Agent Functional Types) agent-based land-use model. Built using JavaFX and available on GitHub, this GUI bridges the gap between model complexity and user accessibility. Key features of CRAFTY-UI include: (1) an intuitive workflow for configuring Agent Functional Types (AFTs) that represent diverse land managers, (2) real-time visualization of simulation progress, and (3) input/output data analysis. Users can customize model parameters such as AFT behavior, productivity settings, societal demand for ecosystem services (including pricing), and multiple protected-area and policy restrictions. Additionally, they can select from different mechanisms such as competition algorithms, mutation intervals, and neighbourhood effects according to their specific research or policy scenarios.

CRAFTY relies on a broad range of input data including land resource maps (capital maps) for each year under multiple SSP-RCP scenarios, along with AFT parameterizations, ecosystem service demands, and protected-area restrictions. The CRAFTY-UI enables users to analyse these datasets across spatial, temporal, and scenario dimensions. In addition to monitoring simulations in real time, users can also import previous runs and employ difference analysis tools to compare outcomes under varying parameters and mechanisms. These features foster a deeper understanding of how social, economic, and environmental capitals interact to shape land-use trajectories. Beyond its advanced analytical capabilities, the CRAFTY-UI simplifies large-scale simulation exploration, offering adjustments that instantly update interactive charts and spatial outputs. By clarifying feedback loops between natural capital, socio-economic drivers, and institutional influences, the interface facilitates evidence-based decision making. Ultimately, the CRAFTY-UI bridges complexity and usability, enabling diverse stakeholders to engage with modelling outputs, enrich policy discussions, and collaboratively shape sustainable land-use strategies.