A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Integrating Lotka-Volterra dynamics and gravity modeling for regional population forecasting
IntroductionForecasting population dynamics is crucial for effective urban and regional planning. Traditional demographic methods, such as Cohort Component Analysis, often do not capture nonlinear interactions and spatial dependencies among regions. To address these limitations, this study integrates Lotka—Volterra prey—predator equations with a probabilistic adaptation of the Gravity model, providing a more robust theoretical and methodological framework for regional population forecasting.MethodsWe adapt the Lotka—Volterra model—originally rooted in ecological theory—by introducing carrying capacities and region-specific parameters, then embed a probabilistic Gravity model to capture interregional mobility. This unified approach leverages population data and migration flows from three major clusters in Quebec, Canada, calibrating model parameters to reflect observed demographic trends. The resulting system of equations was iteratively solved and tested using population data from 2021 through 2023.ResultsThe combined model effectively captured competitive and cooperative population interactions, revealing how spatial connectivity and resource constraints shape long-term growth patterns across the three regions. Calibrated forecasts aligned well with observed trends, demonstrating the framework’s capacity to reflect real-world interdependencies in regional population flows. Key findings highlight the importance of prey—predator—like dynamics in producing stable or shifting equilibria, offering deeper insights into regional competition, cooperation, and demographic sustainability.DiscussionBy merging ecological modeling principles with spatial interaction theories, this work underscores the added value of grounding demographic forecasting in well-established theoretical constructs. Compared to more traditional approaches, the integrated Lotka–Volterra and Gravity model provides a clearer picture of how regional populations evolve under nonlinear and spatially linked influences. This approach is readily adaptable to diverse contexts, potentially enhancing forecast precision and guiding policy interventions in urban development, resource allocation, and strategic planning on a broader scale.
Integrating Lotka-Volterra dynamics and gravity modeling for regional population forecasting
IntroductionForecasting population dynamics is crucial for effective urban and regional planning. Traditional demographic methods, such as Cohort Component Analysis, often do not capture nonlinear interactions and spatial dependencies among regions. To address these limitations, this study integrates Lotka—Volterra prey—predator equations with a probabilistic adaptation of the Gravity model, providing a more robust theoretical and methodological framework for regional population forecasting.MethodsWe adapt the Lotka—Volterra model—originally rooted in ecological theory—by introducing carrying capacities and region-specific parameters, then embed a probabilistic Gravity model to capture interregional mobility. This unified approach leverages population data and migration flows from three major clusters in Quebec, Canada, calibrating model parameters to reflect observed demographic trends. The resulting system of equations was iteratively solved and tested using population data from 2021 through 2023.ResultsThe combined model effectively captured competitive and cooperative population interactions, revealing how spatial connectivity and resource constraints shape long-term growth patterns across the three regions. Calibrated forecasts aligned well with observed trends, demonstrating the framework’s capacity to reflect real-world interdependencies in regional population flows. Key findings highlight the importance of prey—predator—like dynamics in producing stable or shifting equilibria, offering deeper insights into regional competition, cooperation, and demographic sustainability.DiscussionBy merging ecological modeling principles with spatial interaction theories, this work underscores the added value of grounding demographic forecasting in well-established theoretical constructs. Compared to more traditional approaches, the integrated Lotka–Volterra and Gravity model provides a clearer picture of how regional populations evolve under nonlinear and spatially linked influences. This approach is readily adaptable to diverse contexts, potentially enhancing forecast precision and guiding policy interventions in urban development, resource allocation, and strategic planning on a broader scale.
Integrating Lotka-Volterra dynamics and gravity modeling for regional population forecasting
Ünsal Özdilek (author)
2025
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
Metadata by DOAJ is licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0
A class of nonergodic Lotka-Volterra operators
British Library Online Contents | 2015
|Asymptotic lines of a discrete Lotka-Volterra competition model
British Library Online Contents | 2019
|Bifurcation Analysis in a Lotka-Volterra Model with Delay
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012
|Darboux Polynomials for Lotka-Volterra Systems in Three Dimensions
British Library Online Contents | 2009
|