Modeling and simulation

Modeling and simulation

Modeling and simulation (M&S) is the use of models, including emulators, prototypes, simulators, and stimulators, either statically or over time, to develop data as a basis for making managerial or technical decisions. The terms "modeling" and "simulation" are often used interchangeably.[1]

The use of modeling and simulation (M&S) within engineering is well recognized. Simulation technology belongs to the tool set of engineers of all application domains and has been included into the body of knowledge of engineering management. M&S has already helped to reduce costs and increase the quality of products and systems and lessons learned are documented and archived.

M&S is a discipline on its own. Its many application domains often lead to the assumption that M&S is pure application. This is not the case and needs to be recognized by engineering management experts who want to use M&S. To ensure that the results of simulation are applicable to the real world the engineering manager must understand assumptions, conceptualizations, and implementation constraints of this emerging field.

Technically, simulation is well accepted. The 2006 National Science Foundation (NSF) Report on “Simulation-based Engineering Science” [2] showed the potential of using simulation technology and methods to revolutionize the engineering science. Among the reasons for the steadily increasing interest in simulation applications are the following:

  • Using simulations is – as a rule – cheaper and safer than conducting experiments with a prototype of the real thing. One of the biggest computers worldwide is currently designed in order to simulate the detonation of nuclear devices and their effects in order to support better preparedness in the event of a nuclear explosion. Similar efforts are conducted to simulate hurricanes and other natural catastrophes.
  • Simulations can often be even more realistic than traditional experiments, as they allow the free configuration of environment parameters found in the operational application field of the final product. Examples are supporting deep water operation of the US Navy or the simulating the surface of neighbored planets in preparation of NASA missions.
  • Simulations can often be conducted faster than real time. This allows using them for efficient if-then-else analyses of different alternatives, in particular when the necessary data to initialize the simulation can easily be obtained from operational data. This use of simulation adds decision support simulation systems to the tool box of traditional decision support systems.
  • Simulations allow setting up a coherent synthetic environment that allows for integration of simulated systems in the early analysis phase via mixed virtual systems with first prototypical components to a virtual test environment for the final system. If managed correctly, the environment can be migrated from the development and test domain to the training and education domain in follow-on life cycle phases for the systems (including the option to train and optimize a virtual twin of the real system under realistic constraints even before first components are being built).

The emerging discipline of M&S is based on developments in diverse computer science areas as well as influenced by developments in System Theories, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and more. This foundation is as diverse as that of engineering management and brings elements of art, engineering, and science together in a complex and unique way that requires domain experts to enable appropriate decisions when it comes application or development of M&S technology in the context of this paper. The diversity and application-oriented nature of this new discipline some-times results in the challenge, that the supported application domains themselves already have vocabularies in place that are not necessarily aligned between disjunctive domains. A comprehensive and concise representation of concepts, terms, and activities is needed that make up a professional Body of Knowledge for the M&S discipline. Due to the broad variety of contributors, this process is still ongoing.

Although the terms “modeling” and “simulation” are often used as synonyms within disciplines applying M&S exclusively as a tool, within the discipline of M&S both are treated as individual and equally important concepts. Modeling is understood is the purposeful abstraction of reality, resulting in the formal specification of a conceptualization and underlying assumptions and constraints. M&S is in particular interested in models that are used to support the implementation of an executable version on a computer. The execution of a model over time is understood as the simulation. While modeling targets the conceptualization, simulation challenges mainly focus on implementation, in other words, modeling resides on the abstraction level, whereas simulation resides on the implementation level.

Conceptualization and implementation – modeling and simulation – are two activities that are mutually dependent, but can nonetheless be conducted by separate individuals. Management and engineering knowledge and guidelines are needed to ensure that they are well connected. Like an engineering management professional in systems engineering needs to make sure that the systems design captured in a systems architecture is aligned with the systems development, this task needs to be conducted with the same level of professionalism for the model that has to be implemented as well.

In summary, three activities have to be conducted and orchestrated to ensure success: a model must be produced that captures formally the conceptualization, a simulation must implement this model, and management processes must ensure that model and simulation are interconnected and on the current state (which means that normally the model needs to be updated in case the simulation is changed as well).

M&S in modern military organizations is part of the acquisition/procurement strategy. Specifically, M&S is used to conduct Events and Experiments that influence Requirements and Training for military Systems. As such, M&S is considered an integral part of systems engineering of military Systems.

Contents

Modeling and Simulation Body of Knowledge

The Modeling and Simulation Body of Knowledge (M&S BoK) is the domain of knowledge (information) and capability (competency) that identifies the modeling and simulation (M&S) community of practice and the M&S profession, industry, and market.[3]

The M&S BoK Index is a set of pointers providing handles so that subject information content can be denoted, identified, accessed, and manipulated.[4]

The development of M&S BoK Indices has been championed by SimSummit.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Glossary", DoD 5000.59-M, Department of Defense, 1998 [1]
  2. ^ National Science Foundation (NSF) Blue Ribbon Panel (2006). Report on Simulation-Based Engineering Science: Revolutionizing Engineering Science through Simulation. NSF Press, May
  3. ^ Waite, W. (2004) "Foundations '04: A Workshop for VV&A in the 21st Century, Session 10: V&V Education Initiatives
  4. ^ Waite, W. (2004) "Foundations '04: A Workshop for VV&A in the 21st Century, Session 10: V&V Education Initiatives

External links

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