Operational Research (OR) deals with the use of advanced analytical methods to support better decision-making. It is multidisciplinary with strong links to management science, decision science, computer science and many application areas such as engineering, manufacturing, commerce and healthcare. In the study of emergent behaviour in complex adaptive systems, Agent-based Modelling & Simulation (ABMS) is being used in many different domains such as healthcare, energy, evacuation, commerce, manufacturing and defense. This collection of articles presents a convenient introduction to ABMS with papers ranging from contemporary views to representative case studies. The OR Essentials series presents a unique cross-section of high quality research work fundamental to understanding contemporary issues and research across a range of Operational Research (OR) topics. It brings together some of the best research papers from the esteemed Operational Research Society and its associated journals, also published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Dr Simon J E Taylor is Reader in the Department of Computer Science at Brunel University, UK. He founded the COTS Simulation Package Interoperability Standards Group under the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization and co-founded the Journal of Simulation. He is a member of the ACM SIGSIM Steering Committee. He has published many simulation-related articles and is changing the practice of simulation in industry with advanced computing techniques such as Cloud Computing. He is also working with African scientists to develop ICT-based research infrastructures.