Introducing a Novel Hybrid Agent-Based Framework for Simulating Adoption of Residential Water Conservation Behaviors

Promoting household adoption of water conservation behaviors (WCBs) has emerged as a vital policy response in addressing water scarcity. However, it is imperative to recognize that acceptance of residential WCBs rely on households' voluntary engagement, as are interventions designed to encourage households to involve in such actions. Meanwhile, environmental psychology plays a key role in understanding individuals' WCBs and exploring psychosocial determinants underlying these behaviors. Furthermore, spreading behavior and technology among a population is known as a complex adaptive system (CAS), and agent-based modeling (ABM) offers a comprehensive practical approach to study CASs. Hence, the main aim of the present research is to introduce a novel hybrid agent-based framework for simulating adoption of residential WCBs in which an extended model of the theory of planned behavior acts as household agents’ behavioral rules. Moreover, the framework is grounded on various other theories, such as complex network theory, social impact theory, innovation diffusion theory, and social cognitive theory. The proposed framework also integrates ABM and structural equation modeling approaches. As water-efficiency behaviors (technology adoption) are effective tools for conserving water, this study mainly focuses on such behaviors. To provide a more realistic viewpoint, a mechanism has been incorporated into the framework to update agents' water consumption considering their adoption level of water curtailment behaviors. Therefore, the proposed framework allows for simultaneously but separately exploring the preferred adoption level of both WCBs (i.e., water-efficiency and water curtailment behaviors) among agents. Finally, total water consumption can systematically be simulated based on agents’ aggregate behavior.