Introductions

 Class description / purpose

 Instructors
 Carol Bjork – HeyCats! Web Solutions
 Kris Rudin – Ascentium Corporation
 Student introductions
Scientific Modeling - Definition
 Modeling refers to the process of
generating a model as a conceptual
representation of some phenomenon
 A model is a physical or mathematical or
otherwise logical representation of system
or entity or process
 Go out to real world and grab information
about a real world system, business, or
piece of equipment and drag it back into
the simulation and write it into software
Forms of Scientific Modeling
 Business process modeling
 Cartography
 Climate modeling
 Data modeling
 Ecological modeling
 Economical modeling
 Environmental modeling
 Geologic modeling
 Graphical modeling
 Hydrological modeling
 Hydrogeological modeling
 Mathematical modeling
 Medical modeling
 Molecular modeling
 Morphological Modeling
 Ocean modeling
 Simulation
 Software modeling
 Statistical modeling
 Stochastic modeling
 Thought experiment
Simulation - Definition
 A simulation is an imitation of some real device or
state of affairs – an imitation of a real world process
or system over time
 A simulation is an interaction of models as they
operate
 The execution of the software you created is the
simulation (verb)
 Applications:
 Aid to thought
 Communication
 Training
 Prediction
 Experimentation
 Entertainment
Simulations – Where Used
 Modeling of natural systems and human
systems to gain insight into the operation
of those systems
 Simulation in technology and engineering
where the goal is to test some real-world
practical scenario.
 Simulation, using a simulator or otherwise
experimenting with a fictitious situation can
show the eventual real effects of some
possible conditions.
Simulation – Physical/Interactive
 Physical simulation refers to simulation in
which physical objects are substituted for
the real thing, these physical objects are
often chosen because they are smaller or
cheaper, than the actual object or system.
 Interactive simulation, which is a special
kind of physical simulation, and often
referred to as human in the loop
simulations, are physical simulations that
include humans, such as the model used in
a flight simulator.
Computer Simulations
 Computer program which attempts to simulate an
abstract model of a particular system.
 Used in:
 modeling natural systems in physics, chemistry and
biology
 human systems in economics and social science
 engineering new technology to gain insight into the
operation of those systems
 Build on the mathematical model: attempt to find
analytical solutions to problems that enable the
prediction of the behavior of the system from a set of
parameters and initial conditions.
History of Computer Simulations
 Computer simulation was developed hand-in-hand
with the rapid growth of the computer, following its
first large-scale deployment during the Manhattan
Project in World War II to model the process of
nuclear detonation. It was a simulation of 12 hard
spheres (impenetrable spheres that cannot overlap in
space) using a Monte Carlo algorithm.
 Common feature: The attempt to generate a sample
of representative scenarios for a model in which a
complete enumeration of all possible states of the
model would be prohibitive or impossible.
 Computer models were initially used as a supplement
for other arguments, but their use later became
rather widespread.
Types of Computer Simulation
 Stochastic (random process) or
deterministic (a computation that given an
initial state of the system will always
produce the same final state when given
the same input)
 Steady-state or dynamic
 Continuous (small changes in the input
result in small changes in the output) or
discrete (ex: events over time)
 Local or distributed (using two or more
computers communicating over a network
to accomplish a common objective or task)
Computer Simulation Examples
 Stochastic models use random number generators to
model the chance or random events; they are also
called Monte Carlo simulations. Ex: rainfall/runoff
models
 A discrete event simulation (DE) manages events in
time. Most computer simulations are of this type. In
this type of simulation, the simulator maintains a
queue of events sorted by the simulated time they
should occur. The simulator reads the queue and
triggers new events as each event is processed. It is
not important to execute the simulation in real time.
It's often more important to be able to access the
data produced by the simulation, to discover logic
defects in the design, or the sequence of events.
Examples (continued)
 A continuous simulation uses differential equations,
implemented numerically. Periodically, the simulation
program solves all the equations, and uses the
numbers to change the state and output of the
simulation. Most flight and racing-car simulations are
of this type. This may also be used to simulate
electrical circuits.
 Distributed models run on a network of
interconnected computers, possibly through the
Internet. Simulations dispersed across multiple host
computers like this are often referred to as
"distributed simulations". There are several military
standards for distributed simulation.
Examples (continued)
Computer simulations are used in a wide
variety of practical contexts, such as:
 analysis of air pollutant dispersion using
atmospheric dispersion modeling
 design of complex systems such as aircraft and
also logistics systems.
 design of Noise barriers to effect roadway noise
mitigation
 flight simulators to train pilots
 weather forecasting
Can you think of others?
NetLogo Demonstration
 Brief demonstration of NetLogo 3.1
 History
 Created by the Center for Connected Learning
(CCL) and Computer-Based Modeling
(http://ccl.northwestern.edu/)
 Main features
 Programmable environment
 Extensive documentation and user groups
 Models Library
 HubNet – a classroom participatory-simulation
tool
 Models can run in a web environment