The DISPERS-CA model was developed in 2022 and is a simple directed cellular automata model for the R environment for modelling the spatial diffusion of past populations (hunter-gatherers, animals) across a landscape.

At the model start time, an agent (individual or group) occupies a cell, and scans the cell neighbourhood for the most suitable next step. A cost function is implemented whereby the agent will choose the minimum slope within the neighbourhood at each step. The cost function can be substituted with a different choice parameter, if desired. The associated R code can be downloaded from here. The documentation is available as a preprint here.

A new version is currently under development and will be published soon.

Image source: IMOSET project