[Defended thesis] Loïc Sadou: Use of agent-based simulation and argumentation framework to better understand the diffusion and appropriation of communicating water meter technology in agriculture

Use of agent-based simulation and argumentation framework to better understand the diffusion and appropriation of communicating water meter technology in agriculture

I completed a Master's degree in computer science specializing in Artificial Intelligence (IARF course: (Artificial Intelligence and Pattern Recognition). I then did my end-of-Master's internship with the SMAC (Cooperative Multi-Agent Systems) team at IRIT (Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse), which enabled me to specialize and develop a taste for the application of multi-agent systems. I therefore decided to continue my training in this field, by completing my thesis in the MIAT laboratory at Inrae in Toulouse.
The central question behind this thesis is how to better represent the processes of adoption and diffusion of innovations in agent-based simulation, and how this better representation can help answer questions about the use of digital technologies in agriculture. The thesis will be applied to the case of communicating water meters. A recent study showed that farmers on the recharged Louts river (south-west France) were reluctant to equip themselves, even though these meters could benefit both farmers and water managers.
The thesis could go further in clarifying this reluctance and evaluating strategies for reducing it, particularly in terms of compensation.

• Starting date: 1st November 2020
• University: Université Toulouse 3 Paul SABATIER
• PhD school: MITT
• Scientific field: IT
• Thesis management: Patrick Taillandier, Miat, Inrae
• Thesis supervisors: Rallou Thomopoulos, Miat, Inrae – Stéphane Couture, Miat, Inrae
• Funding: #DigitAg – Inrae
• #DigitAg : Cofunded thesis – Axe 1 : Impact des technologies de l’information et de la communication sur le monde rural

Keywords: Agent-based modeling, argumentation theory, innovation diffusion, communicating water meter, agricultural territory

Abstract:  These last years have seen a strong development of digital technologies in agriculture, which have already largely begun to impact farmers' practices. While these technologies offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the emergence of a more environmentally friendly agriculture, they also raise many questions about the negative effects they could be causing (inequalities between farmers, industrialization of agriculture, data ownership and leakage, etc.). This thesis project aims to study different levers that could allow the appropriation and virtuous diffusion of digital tools in agriculture. To do this, it proposes to build a simulation model to evaluate different policies (training of farmers, communication around digital tools, etc.) at the scale of a territory. The model will be based on the coupling between agent-based modeling and argumentation theory. The objective is to start from the field using methods from experimental economics and surveys, and to analyze the arguments used by the various actors on the use of these tools to propose a rich and realistic modeling of the phenomena of appropriation and diffusion of innovations. This modeling approach will be applied to study the case of communicating water meters (similar to Linky for electricity meters) among farmers in Occitanie. These tools, which could lead to better management of water resources, are now a source of tension for many farmers. The application challenge is to better understand these tensions and evaluate strategies to overcome them.

Contact: loic.sadou [AT] gmail.com - Tel : 06.73.42.78.57