ALMaSS (Animal, Landscape and Man Simulation System) is the core modelling framework of SESS, representing almost 30 years of continuous research and development at Aarhus University. This cutting-edge agent-based modelling system provides an integrated framework for simulating landscapes, farming systems, and environmental processes at unprecedented spatial and temporal detail.

What Sets ALMaSS Apart

ALMaSS combines highly detailed landscape simulation with agent-based population models to create realistic representations of social-ecological systems. Unlike conventional models that use static maps, ALMaSS employs dynamic landscapes where vegetation grows in response to weather and management, farms operate under realistic decision-making rules, and animals behave as individuals moving through spatially explicit environments. This approach enables ALMaSS to capture the complex interactions between landscape structure, agricultural management, and wildlife populations across spatial scales from 1 m² to 2,500 km².

Current Applications and Impact

ALMaSS is now operational across 12 European countries and serves as an important tool for environmental risk assessment and policy development. The system currently supports major EU and national initiatives, including:

• PollinERA: Developing systems-based environmental risk assessment for pollinators, integrating toxicological testing with landscape-scale population models for bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies
• ApisRAM: The honey bee colony model commissioned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for regulatory pesticide risk assessment in Europe
• PERA: Contributing to EFSA's Partnership for next-generation Environmental Risk Assessment
• Ecometric: Demonstrating the practical application of ALMaSS for evaluating ecosystem services and biodiversity outcomes under different agricultural management scenarios

ALMaSS models now include diverse species groups, from insects (pollinators, aphids, spiders, beetles) to birds and mammals, as well as human decision-making agents. The system integrates pesticide fate modelling, floral resource dynamics, and multiple stressor interactions to provide comprehensive assessments of agricultural management impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Open Science and Collaboration

Since 2010, ALMaSS has been an open-source, open-science project hosted on GitLab, fostering international collaboration among ecologists, software engineers, geographers, and policy specialists. The project maintains comprehensive documentation through the use of formal models in the Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal and an active publication record available through a dedicated collection in RIO.

All research projects and publications associated with ALMaSS are showcased at the Aarhus University ALMaSS Pure site.