# SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator — Ecology and Epidemiology

> Interactive simulator for spatial population dynamics in ecology and epidemiology. (iPhone/iPad app by David Hiebeler.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speedsim-spatial-population-dynamics-simulator/id437545518 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [David Hiebeler](https://appshunter.io/developer/437545521)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 2.70/5 from 18 App Store ratings · 18 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 14 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-05-22
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speedsim-spatial-population-dynamics-simulator/id437545518/reviews.md

## What is SPEEDSim?

Spatial Population Ecological and Epidemiological Dynamics Simulator (SPEED Sim) is a tool that enables hands-on interactive exploration of the spatial dynamics of various computational models in population ecology and epidemiology.  The app also provides several cellular automaton models as an introduction to these kinds of simulations.

This app has been used in numerous K-12 educational outreach venues, including:
* Expanding Your Horizons workshops to stimulate interest in STEM fields among middle-school girls
* 4-H workshops for middle- and high-school students
* Workshop at the Maine Science Festival
* Various visits to K-12 schools
* An exhibit at the Maine Discovery Museum, a children's museum in Bangor, Maine

The app currently includes twelve different models:

- Conway's Game of Life: a classic cellular automaton that was created by mathematician John Conway in 1970.
- Vants: (Langton's Virtual Ants) demonstrates how extremely complex behaviour can arise from a set of very simple rules.
- Majority/Voter: models peer pressure, genetic drift or the spread of opinions and ideas.
- Diffuse: physics model of particles randomly diffusing around (e.g. particles of ink in a jar of water)
- Diffusion-Limited Aggregation: models a process similar to crystallization, with diffusing particles aggregating out of solution.
- Cyclic Cellular Automaton:  a generalized version of 'rock-paper-scissors.'
- SIRS epidemiological model
(Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible): demonstrates an infectious disease spreading through a population, where individuals have temporary immunity after recovering from the infection.
- Dispersal2: a population model where individuals disperse their offspring at two local scales.
- Fragmented Landscape:a population model with local and long-distance dispersal on a spatially structured heterogeneous landscape.
- Competitive Species: an extension of the Fragmented Landscape model above, but with two species competing for available habitat with different strategies.
- Block Disturbance: a spatial population ecology model where births occur individually, but when death occurs, entire blocks of sites go extinct simultaneously.
- Vaccinated Communities epidemiological model: shows how the dynamics of an infectious disease are affected not only by the total amount of vaccination in a population, but also by the variability in vaccination levels among different communities.
- Internet Worms: simulates the spread of malicious software spreading through the internet using biologically inspired dispersal strategies.

The simulation models allow you to change all parameters controlling the dynamics. Images of the detailed spatial dynamics can be displayed, as well as graphs summarizing the behavior over time. Both types of images can be saved to the Photos library. New patterns can be interactively drawn in the system by simply moving your finger around on the lattice.  You can also pinch-to-zoom, and then pan around using two fingers.

Most of the models allow you to load images from the camera and run simulations on them.  Tap the Options menu at the bottom of the Lattice screen to load images from the camera or the Photos library.  For example: load the Diffuse model, turn on Walls mode in the Parameters tab, and then run the model on a photo of yourself.

Note that the simulations are generally computational intensive and will run more quickly on newer iOS devices or when you select a smaller lattice size.  The speed adjuster brought up from the Options menu near the bottom of the Lattice screen lets you slow down the simulation to observe the dynamics more closely.  The larger screen on iPads allows for a much nicer interface, but the app is fully functional on iPhones and iPod Touches as well.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. DMS-0718786 and DMS-0746603 to David Hiebeler.

## Key features

- Interactive spatial simulations
- Cellular automaton models
- Parameter customization
- Visualize spatial dynamics
- Graph summaries over time
- Save images to Photos
- Pinch-to-zoom and pan

## Recent user reviews (10 of 18)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speedsim-spatial-population-dynamics-simulator/id437545518/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Needs to be updated

*2025-12-21*

This actually worked at one point. If only the dev kept updating it.

### 1/5 — App doesn’t work

*2025-06-30*

I tried the app on both my iPhone 16 pro and iPad 11th gen, and the app just freezes. No interaction whatsoever. I’ve tried closing and refreshing, as well as deleting and reinstalling on both devices. It still does nothing.

### 3/5 — Freeze!

*2023-12-11*

Everytime i open this app, instantly frozen.

(Fix it, Swat that freeze bug)

### 1/5 — App freezes on startup

*2023-06-21*

I have the latest iOS version (iOS 16.5 (20F66) )on an iPhone 14 pro max and when I open this app it freezes in the selection screen.

Please fix it, the app looks very interesting.

### 1/5 — Nada thing

*2023-06-03*

Frozen , solid

### 5/5 — I liked this app

*2022-03-02*

Please bring this app back it fascinates me and I cant seem to use it it’s not working I can’t press or do anything

### 2/5 — Frozen on start

*2022-02-02, version 2.6*

Opening menu looks like it could once have been a great educational resource for systems e.g. Conway's game of life. But looks like it's been forgotten about, and freezes up before you can start any simsulations.

### 1/5 — Duff

*2021-12-23, version 2.6*

App does not work once opened :(

### 3/5 — Bug

*2021-08-18*

Any time I open the app, I can't interact with anything, the app is basically frozen.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work.

*2021-07-04, version 2.6*

Doesn’t work.

## Frequently asked questions about SPEEDSim

### What is SPEEDSim used for?

SPEEDSim is used to explore and simulate spatial dynamics in population ecology and epidemiology. It provides hands-on interactive exploration of computational models, including cellular automata, for educational and scientific purposes.

### What types of models are included in SPEEDSim?

SPEEDSim includes twelve different models, such as Conway's Game of Life, Vants, Majority/Voter, SIRS epidemiological model, Dispersal2, and more, covering various aspects of population dynamics and disease spread.

### Can I change the simulation parameters in SPEEDSim?

Yes, you can change all parameters controlling the dynamics of the simulation models. This allows for hands-on exploration and understanding of how different factors influence the outcomes.

### How does SPEEDSim help with learning?

SPEEDSim has been used in K-12 educational outreach, including workshops for middle- and high-school students, to stimulate interest in STEM fields. It provides an interactive way to learn about complex scientific concepts.

### Can I save my simulations from SPEEDSim?

Yes, you can save images of the detailed spatial dynamics as well as graphs summarizing the behavior over time to your Photos library. You can also interactively draw new patterns on the lattice.

### What devices is SPEEDSim available on?

SPEEDSim is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices.

### How often is SPEEDSim updated?

The latest version of SPEEDSim is 2.6, which was last updated on September 13, 2017. It is a free application with no in-app purchases or advertisements.

### What is the user rating for SPEEDSim?

SPEEDSim has a rating of 2.7 stars from 18 ratings. This suggests a mixed reception among users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.6 — 2017-09-13

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

* Added a model of internet worms, which spread through networks using biologically inspired dispersal strategies.  In the model, the colors show the prevalence of non-immune computer hosts in a given portion of the internet; the brightness shows the infection level there.
* Added description of Museum Mode to the "Using this app" info under the Lessons tab.  Museum mode is intended for use on an iPad running in a kiosk in a public space.

Some users have requested the addition of text input for parameters.  It is on the to-do list!  Family and work obligations preclude rapid work on the app, but this feature is fairly high on the list of desired additions.

### 2.5 — 2016-07-30

Some improvements to Museum Mode -- when in Museum Mode, if the device is charging, auto-lock is disabled.  When power is disconnected, auto-lock is enabled again.  Also, zoom and pan are reset when the Museum Mode timer resets the app, in case a museum patron had zoomed in very far on the display.  (To enable Museum Mode, use the device's Settings app, and scroll down until you see the settings for this particular app.)

### 2.4 — 2015-06-03

You can now load images from the camera or the Photos library!  (Tap the "Options" button in the Lattice screen to access the camera.)  This lets you run various simulation models on photos.  Suggestion: load the Diffuse model, turn on Walls mode in the Parameters, take a photo of yourself, and then start running the model.  You can also save/load to/from image buffers from the Options.

A Diffuse model has been added, that lets you run a physics particle diffusion model with various particle colors, along with immovable walls.

The speed stepper control (that controls how quickly the simulation runs) can be made visible from within the Options menu on the Lattice screen.  You can now also control the simulation speed via a slider in the Settings tab.

Additional lessons have been added for other models.

A few other bug fixes and improvements for iOS 8 and iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus were made.

### 2.3 — 2014-04-22

A new feature has been added -- Lessons!  (Note: Lessons are only available in iOS 7.)

Lessons contain more information about specific models that can be explored in the app, and provide a way to start with particular patterns or images to see interesting behaviors.  Currently, Lessons have only been provided for the Life and Vants models.  Lessons for other models will be added later.

There have been some other minor changes; for example, the speed stepper that controls how fast the simulation runs is now tucked away inside the "speeding car" icon at the bottom of the Lattice image, unless you tap the car to bring it up.

### 2.2.1 — 2013-12-05

Minor internal improvements related to iOS 7.

## Apps similar to SPEEDSim

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Hopscotch-Programming for kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopscotch-programming-for-kids/id617098629) | 4.5 (14,536) | Free | Education |
| [Mandel Draw](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandel-draw/id1547068084) | 4.5 (147) | Free | Education |
| [Jude - Fractal Explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jude-fractal-explorer/id1480948909) | 4.7 (11) | Free | Education |
| [Tiamat - Cellular Automata](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiamat-cellular-automata/id1580189385) | 4.9 (99) | Free | Education |
| [phyphox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyphox/id1127319693) | 4.6 (207) | Free | Education |
| [Educreations Whiteboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/educreations-whiteboard/id478617061) | 4.8 (11,735) | Free | Education |

## Related topics

[david hiebeler](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/david-hiebeler) · [applied spatial ecology and technical services](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/applied-spatial-ecology-and-technical-services) · [spatial agents](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/spatial-agents) · [biosphere 2 experience](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/biosphere-2-experience) · [qcmology](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/qcmology)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*