How to be reflexive about an Agent Based Model of social and hydrological system?

The added value of using computer modeling to study the relationship between water and society is not always shared between modelers and other disciplines in the humanities such as qualitative sociology. Although both can share the same research object, the methods of interpretation, the field approaches or the posture with local actors can sometimes be too different to really work together. In this communication, we propose to revisit the interdisciplinary dialogue between a modeler of socio-hydrological dynamics and a sociologist in order to overcome their misunderstandings. We thus develop a reflexive approach about the contribution of their disciplines to produce knowledge and contribute to water management issues facing society.

Our case study is an agent-based model of a social and hydrological system developed for a thesis in geography (by Idda Salem) to understand the dynamics of the oasis traditional agriculture in front of social and environmental changes that occurred in the modern Algerian state. The model gives an integrated and systemic vision of all elements mentioned in the issue studied, included a spatial representation of the aquifer dynamics, an implementation of institutional rules of water uses and associated social and physical external drivers. The model constitutes a support for dialogue and negotiation between our two disciplines. What emerges from this dialogue is the sharing of a common ontology that goes beyond the methods, tools and vocabulary of each. This translates into the identification of a common research object (hybrid water: social and physical), similar research questions (what contributions do agent-based models make to the understanding of the relationship between water and society?) and the meaning given to research (producing alternative narratives to dominant discourses).

In concrete terms, we will clarify the role of each party in the dialogue: the modeler's interest in taking a fresh look at the construction of the model he has produced and its assumptions, the sociologist's interest in questioning the modeling activity. Moreover, we will identify the stages of formalization of this dialogue (drawing, writing, oral communication in a seminar organized by ethnologists).