Simulation
Software
Discrete-Event System Simulation
5th Edition
Chapter 4
World Views of
Simulation
Event-SchedulingModel
View
As with our project 1
Focus on processing each event
Process-interaction View
View model as a set of processes
through which an entity flows
Life-cycle approach time-sequenced
list of events, activities, & delays
Common in simulation environments
World Views of
Simulation Model
Activity Scanning Approach
Focus on activities & conditions that allow
it to begin
At each clock advance, scan conditions to
start any activity that can begin
Approach is simple, but scan is slow
New 3-phase approach includes some
event scheduling somewhat more
complex but more efficient
Categories of Simulation
Software
General Purpose Languages
Simulation Languages
C, C++, Java
GPSS, SIMAN, SLAM, SSF
Simulation Environments
Enterprise Dynamics, Arena, SIMUL8
Features of Simulation
Languages
Some focus on a single type of
application
Built in features include
Statistics collection
Time management
Queue management
Event generation
Features of Simulation
Environments
Some focus on one type of application
Icon based
Analysis of I/O
Advanced Statistics
Optimization
Support for Experimentation
History of Simulation
Software
(Nance
1995)
1955-60
Period of Search
1961-65
Advent
1966-70
Formative Period
1971-78
Expansive Period
1979-86
Period of Consolidation &
Regeneration
1987- 2008 Period of Integrated
Environments
2009 +
The Future
7
Simulation Languages
1981 137 Simulation languages
reported
More have be developed since
Now Simulation Environments
The Search:: 1955 - 60
FORTRAN one of a few languages
Focus on unifying concepts & reusable
functions
General Simulation Program first
effort at language which as a set of
functions
The Advent:: 1961-65
GPSS 1961 @ IBM
Based on block diagrams
Well-suited for queuing models
Expensive at first
SIMSCRIPT 1963 Rand Corp.
US Air Force government is biggest user
FORTRAN influence
Owned by CACI in CA.
10
The Advent:: 1961-65
(continued)
GASP 1961
Based on Algol, then Fortran
Collection of Fortran functions
SIMULA extension of Algol
Widely used in Europe
CSL (Control & Simulation Language)
11
Formative Period:: 196670
Concepts caused major revisions of
languages
Languages gained wider usage
GPSS (several variations)
Simscript II English-like
ECSL Europe
SIMULA added classes & inheritance
12
The Expansion Period::
1971-78
GPSS/H 1977
GASP IV 1974 Purdue
SIMULA
Attempt to simplify the modeling process
Program generators severe limitations
13
Consolidation &
Regeneration::
Movement to mini and PC computers
1979-1986
SLAM II (descendant of GASP)
3 world views
Event, Network, Continuous
SIMAN (descendant of GASP)
General Modeling + Block Diagrams
1st first major language - PC & MS-DOS
Fortran functions w/ Fortran programming
14
Integrated
Environments::
1987 - 2008
Growth on PCs
Simulation Environments
GUI
Animation
Data analyzers
15
The Future :: 2009 - 2011
What can we expect in the future? (2008)
Virtual Reality
Improved Interfaces
Better Animation
Agent-based Modeling
16
Agent-Based Software
AnyLogic
Ascape
MASON
NetLogo
StarLogo
Swarm
RePast
17
Evaluating Software
Consider multiple issues
Speed of execution
Ease of use, support, applicability
Experimental runs Debugging
Beware of demos & advertising
Will focus on strengths only
Ask for demo of YOUR problem
18
Evaluating Software
Carefully consider comparison checklists
with yes/no answers
Can software link to external languages
Carefully consider trade-off between
graphical model building & simulation
programming language
Costs one-time vs. licensing
19
Simulation Software
Features
See the following tables in text:
Model-building features
Runtime Environment
P. 123 Table 4.1
P. 124 Table 4.2
Animation & Layout features
P. 124 Table 4.3
20
Simulation Software
Features
Output features
P. 125 Table 4.4
Vendor Support - Documentation
P. 125 Table 4.5
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Example Simulation
Checkout Counter Single Server
Queue
Consider at standard checkout counter
environment with on clerk and one
queue. Interarrival times are
exponentially distributed with mean 4.5
minutes; service times normally
distributed with mean 3.2 and standard
deviation 0.6 minutes.
Simulate for 1000 customers.
22
Java Model
Section 4.4 p.126
Note similarity to our process in
project one
23
GPSS
General Purpose Simulation System
Highly Structured
Process Approach
Queuing Systems
Block Diagrams
40 standard blocks
Block corresponds to a statement
Transactions FLOW through the system
24
GPSS Block Diagram for
Example
Figure 4.10 p. 138
Each entity has a name
Name each queue, server, etc.
In rectangle, parameters (as necessary)
Right attachment, name of entity
Far right column GPSS Command
25
GPSS Syntax
Assembly-like
Label
OpCode Subfields ; comment
Label: col. 1, <= 9 alphanumeric, alpha
start
OpCode: 4+ characters of command
Subfields: as necessary, separated by
commas
Comment: after ; or with * in column 1
26
GPSS Program
Figure 4.11 p. 139
Declaration Section
Customized vs. Standard Output
Code Section
27
Generate
Queue
Queue
Seize
Depart
Advance
Release
Depart
Test_GE
Blet
Ter Terminate
Start
rvexpo (1,&IAT)
Systime
Line
Checkout
Line
rvnorm(1,&mean,&stdev)
Checkout
Systime
M1, 4, Term
&Count = &Count +1
1
&Limit
28
GPSS Output
Customized
Figure 4.12 P. 141
Standard
Figure 4.13 P. 142
29
Other Simulation
Software
SSF Scalable Simulation Framework
Application Program Interface (API)
Object-oriented, process view
5 Base Classes
Process, Entity, Event, InChannel, OutChannel
Designed for high-performance computers
Bridges pure Java & simulation languages
Figures 4.14 & 4.15
30
Simulation Environments
~~
GUI
Common
Features
Animation
Automatic statistics
Output (tables, graphs, custom)
Analysis
Process world view
31
Common Features (# 2)
Some allow
Event Scheduling
Mixed continuous-discrete models
Animations 2D & 3D
Business Graphics
32
Simulation
Environments
AnyLogic
ExtendSim
Arena
Flexsim
AutoMod
ProModel
Enterprise
SIMUL8
Dynamics
33
AnyLogic
Supports: discrete event, agent-based,
system dynamics (& combination)
Hybrid: discrete & continuous
Object library
Java models, publish as applets
Animation, Statistics, optimization,
debugger
34
Arena
Discrete & Continuous systems
Object-based; GUI
2D, 3D Animation
Business & Manufacturing processes
Supports Analysis
OptQuest for optimization
Based on SIMAN; embedded Visual Basic
35
AutoMod
Manufacturing & Materials handling
Detailed large models for planning,
decision support, control systems
AutoStat - Experimentation & analysis
AutoView - Make movies of 3D
animations
Full simulation language included
36
Object oriented
Discrete Events
Open GL 3D visualization engine
4D Script programming language
Interfaces with databases
OptQuest optimization
37
ExtendSim
Block-diagram approach
Versions for mixed and for continuous
only
Includes C-like programming language
Supports linking to external languages
38
Flexsim
Dynamic-flow systems - manufacturing
Discrete-event, Object-oriented
simulator; developed in C++ using
Open GL
Animation: 2D, 3D, Virtual reality
Drag & Drop
39
ProModel
Manufacturing Systems
Simulation & Animation (2D & 3D)
Output viewer graphs, tables
SimRunner optimizer based on
evolutionary algorithm technique
OptQuest is also available
MedModel, ServiceModel
40
SIMUL8
Service industries, transaction processing
Drop & Drag model development
Saves in XML format
Pre-built templates for common
applications
3D virtual reality graphics
Links to database
41
Experimentation &
Statistical Analysis Tools
Included in most all simulation systems
Add-ons also available
Features
Optimization define fitness or cost
function
42
Arena
Output & Process Analyzer
Confidence intervals
Comparison of systems
Warm-up determinations
Graphs (all types) 2D & 3D
Scenario definition
43
AutoStat (from AutoMod)
Warm-up determination
Steady state determination
Confidence intervals
Sensitivity analysis
Optimization via evolutionary strategy
44
OptQuest
Based on scatter search, tabu search,
linear-integer programming, data
mining, neural nets (evolutionary)
Uncertainty problems
Global optimums
Handles non-linear and discontinuous
relationships
45
SimRunner (from
ProModel)
Based evolutionary models & genetic
algorithms
Optimizations
3D graphics
Warm-up (steady state) determination
46
Conclusion
Many simulation software environments
available
Many do have trial versions to download
for trying
Before deciding, consider the features
and the add-ons available that will suit
your particular environment
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