NetLogo Models Library:
Code Examples

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Patch Coordinates Example

If you download the NetLogo application, this model is included. You can also Try running it in NetLogo Web

WHAT IS IT?

The turtle goes forward "distance-of-travel" and returns to (start-x, start-y). The green patch is the center patch upon which there is a turtle at (start-x, start-y), and the patch "distance-of-travel" away from that center will flash as the turtle passes through it.

This is an illustration of the difference between a radius of 1 and the distance from patch to patch. Distance in NetLogo is measured in patches, and so "forward 1" for a turtle means for it to go forward exactly the length of one side of a patch. However, as illustrated by the pythagorean theorem, the distance across the diagonal of a patch is root 2 (around 1.414). As such, there are points and headings of a turtle within a patch from which going forward 1 will not result in changing the patch on which the turtle lands.

HOW IT WORKS

There is a searcher turtle that travels clockwise at distance-of-travel from the center (start-x,start-y). The searcher returns to the center each tick and goes forward distance-of-travel. distance-of-travel, start-x, and start-y are all sliders. The center turtle simply marks the center at (start-x, start-y).

HOW TO USE IT

Press setup, then press go. You can change the sliders while the model is running.

THINGS TO NOTICE

Patches are laid out in NetLogo such that they span from pxcor - 0.5 on the left to an open boundary at pxcor + 0.5. The same equation is used for pycor. That is, for patch 3 1, it's actual real range is ([-3.5,2.5), [-1.5,-0.5)). This is illustrated in the model.

THINGS TO TRY

Try changing start-x to 0.5 and start-y to 0.5. Where is the green patch now? Now try changing start-x to -0.5 and start-y to -0.5. When the start-x = -0.5 and start-y = -0.5, the turtle is centered on patch 0 0. When the start-x = 0.5 and start-y = 0.5, the turtle is centered on patch 1 1.

EXTENDING THE MODEL

You could change the model such that there are a "halo" of turtles always distance-of-travel from the center.

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