An Open Data Driven Epidemiological Agent-Based Model for Irish Towns Elizabeth Hunter 1 , Brian Mac Namee 2 , John Kelleher 1 1 School of Computing, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland 2 School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Ireland elizabeth.hunter@mydit.ie brian.macnamee@ucd.ie john.d.kelleher@dit.ie Abstract. Agent-based models have become popular as tools for epi- demiological simulations due to their ability to model at the individual level. To produce results that can be readily applied to a given popula- tion, agent-based models need to be data rich and it can be difficult to obtain sources of data representing the population being modeled. There are, however, many sources of openly available data that can be used to create a simulation. In this paper we demonstrate how openly available data, primarily from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, can be used to develop epidemiological simulation models for Irish towns. Using openly available data allows anyone to have access to the data used in the model to evaluate or recreate our work. We present case studies modeling two different towns, Rathnew and Bagenalstown. 1 Introduction Agent-based models are a type of computer simulation composed of agents that can interact with each other and with an environment. An agent can be anything from an individual to an organization or body, such as a nation state. Agents will make decisions on what to do and how to interact with other agents based on a behaviour control program. The behaviour control program can be different for each agent, or for different agent types [11]. Many different fields use agent- based models including ecology, demography, geography, political science and epidemiology [12]. Although agent-based models have been around for some time, with one of the earliest published models appearing in 1971, it was not until the late 1990s with the introduction of various platforms designed to help create agent-based models (Netlogo, Swarm and Repast) that they began to gain popularity in the social sciences. The modelling platforms allow for non computer programmers to create and understand agent-based models making them available to more researchers. As the platforms improve and computer power expands more and more models can be created that would have been nearly impossible to create before [11]. Although agent based models are common in epidemiology, the spread of infectious diseases through a population is traditionally modeled using equation