Theoretical Perspectives of CA-based Geographical System Modeling
地理系统模拟的CA模型理论探讨

As a fundamental method, cellular automaton has found its unique function in complex geographical system which is characterized by the complicated interaction between natural sub-system and human sub-system. Although different equation-based models have achieved their brilliant successes, it is difficult to apply these models to simulate the whole processes embedded in the complicated geographical systems. Therefore it is ideal to integrate these CA with different equations. The article was aimed to probe into basic concepts and theories related CA model. The recent progresses and achievements were firstly reviewed in the second paragraph, and it is believed that CA is a very innovative method to deal with the complicated processes of natural-human system. Three basic relationships, which are key to develop a new Geo-CA model based on physical law and system evolution rules, are spatial structure of geographical system and configuration of automaton, macro-phenomena and micro-mechanism, and geo-system evolution rule and CA rules. It is necessary to make more efforts to study the formation expression of discrete geo-cellular, micro-mechanism based rules for complex geo-system, and parallel computation of Geo-CA models.