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

21

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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