Simulation Details
This page contains details about the Microlandia simulation parameters.
Important note: The simulation parameters listed on this page are subject to change as the game is developed and balanced. They are provided here for transparency and feedback. Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
Second important note: A lot of simulation parameters are chosen based on US data, since that is the most readily available. In future versions of the game, different scenarios with values that reflect other parts of the world will be available.
GENERAL
ANNUAL_URBAN_POPULATION_GROWTH_PERCENT: 0.017
The annual growth rate of the urban population, expressed as a percentage. This rate reflects the rate at which your city will grow.
Source: World Bank
FERTILITY_RATE: 2.2
The number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year. This rate affects how many children are born in the city each year.
Source: World Bank
ROAD_MAINTENANCE_PRICE: $80
Urban road maintenance costs for each 20x20 segment of road, spent monthly by the city.
⚠️ Source pending
MAINTENANCE_PARK_PRICE: $7,000
The cost of maintaining a 20x20 meters plot of parkland per month. This cost includes expenses related to landscaping, cleaning, security, and other operational costs associated with park maintenance.
Source: New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO)
CITIZEN_RETIREMENT_AGE: 65
The age at which citizens are considered retired and start receiving a monthly pension from the city.
⚠️ Source pending
POLICE_OFFICER_MONTHLY_SALARY: $5,000
The monthly salary paid to each police officer or policewoman. This amount is deducted from the city’s funds each month for every active police officer.
⚠️ Source pending
FIREFIGHTER_MONTHLY_SALARY: $5,000
The monthly salary paid to each firefighter. This amount is deducted from the city’s funds each month for every active firefighter.
⚠️ Source pending
ECONOMICS
CITIZEN_COST_OF_LIVING: $1,718
Monthly costs for a single person, excluding rent. This figure includes expenses such as food, transportation, healthcare, and other essentials. It is deducted monthly from each citizen’s balance.
Source: Numbeo
HEALTH
HOSPITAL_INPATIENT_OUTPATIENT_MULTIPLIER: 15
Ratio of outpatients to inpatients in hospitals. Inpatients are those admitted overnight, and will take capacity of the hospital for the time defined in AVERAGE_LENGTH_OF_STAY_DAYS. Outpatients are those who visit the hospital for treatment but do not stay overnight.
⚠️ Source pending
AVERAGE_LENGTH_OF_STAY_DAYS: 5
Average length of stay in days for inpatients in hospitals.
Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
COST_PER_BED_MONTH: $50,000
Monthly operating cost per hospital bed, including expenses related to personnel, equipment usage, and other operational costs associated with patient care.
Source: NYC Council Budget Report
EDUCATION
CITIZENS_WITH_BACHELORS_DEGREE_OR_HIGHER: 0.44
Percentage of working-age adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher. This affects the employability of citizens, as some jobs require higher education. When citizens immigrate to the city, this percentage will determine the likelihood of them having a bachelor’s degree. When they graduate from school, this percentage will also be used to determine if they will attain a bachelor’s degree.
Source: NYC Future
HIGH_SCHOOL_COST_PER_STUDENT_MONTH: $2,993
Monthly cost of educating a single student in public high schools. This cost includes expenses related to teacher salaries, facilities, materials, and other operational costs associated with running public high schools.
Source: U.S. Department of Education
CRIME
CLEARANCE_RATE: 0.39
The percentage of reported crimes that are solved by the police. This means that 39% of crimes result in an arrest, and the remaining will be unsolved, leaving the criminal in the city to make more crimes.
Source: NYPD
DISTANCE_PATROLED_BY_POLICE_OFFICERS_PER_SHIFT: 5000
The distance a police unit (2 officers) can effectively patrol during a single shift (8 hours). This affects the area that is covered daily by each police station in the city.
Source: ICMA Center for Public Safety Management
INCIDENTS_PER_POLICE_OFFICE_SHIFT: 1
Number of crime incidents that a single officer can be dispatched to and handle during a single shift (8 hours).
Source: NYPD
CRIMINALITY_RATE: 0.01
Percent of citizens without a job and money that will become criminals each year.
Source: CEPR
INMATE_HOUSING_COST_PER_INMATE: $47,000
Annual incarceration cost per inmate, charged upfront when a criminal is caught. Covers the full year’s cost of housing, personnel, food, and healthcare.
Source: Vera Institute
PARKS_AND_RECREATION
BASKETBALL_COURT_MAINTENANCE_COST_MONTH: $1,000
Monthly maintenance cost for a a full-sized basketball court’s upkeep
Source: NYC Parks & Recreation
TRAFFIC
CAR_SPEED_LIMIT_KM_H: 40
The speed limit for cars on roads, expressed in kilometers per hour. This affects the road capacity and probability of traffic congestion.
⚠️ Source pending
FIRE
FIRE_RESPONSE_COST: $25,000
Average cost incurred by fire departments for responding to a single fire incident. This cost includes expenses related to personnel, equipment usage, and other operational costs associated with firefighting efforts.
⚠️ Source pending
FIRE_RATE_MONTH: 0.022
Monthly probability of a random building catching fire. This rate is used to simulate fire incidents in the city. Fire departments will respond to these incidents and prevent buildings from burning down.
Source: Fire Department of New York City (FDNY)
WASTE
DAILY_WASTE_PER_CITIZEN_KG: 2
Amount of solid waste generated by each citizen per day.
Source: NYC Department of Sanitation
WASTE_COLLECTION_COST_TON: $566
Cost of collecting and processing one ton of solid waste. This cost includes expenses related to labor, equipment, transportation, and disposal fees. It will be deducted from the city’s funds based daily based on DAILY_WASTE_PER_CITIZEN_KG
Source: NYC Department of Sanitation