Model-based Simulation Systems Engineering

Abstract

Synergies play a critical role in the evolution of simulation discipline. The contribution of systems engineering to simulation is by introducing methodologies that enhance the engineering of simulations, especially for large and complex systems. The result is named as simulation systems engineering: the interdisciplinary process for developing, maintaining and employing simulation systems. Over-and-above, this thesis investigates possibilities for leveraging model-based approaches in systems engineering, particularly as applied for software intensive systems, in engineering of simulation systems. There are a wide range of methodologies and approaches used in simulation modeling depending on the behavior of the modeled system (e.g. continuous, discrete, hybrid), the focus of the modeler (e.g. activity diagrams, state transition diagrams), the abstraction (e.g. agent-based simulation, object-oriented simulation), the execution (e.g. activity scanning, event scanning) or model syntax (e.g. declarative, functional). Hence, the thesis claims that it is practically hard and maybe even not attainable to develop a common and widely accepted model-based process for engineering of simulation systems. It rather promotes pragmatic utilization of model-based approaches and endorses them as indispensable elements of the emerging simulation systems engineering tool set. The thesis asserts that the pragmatic employment of model-based practices is beneficial in increasing the quality characteristics, such as effectiveness, efficiency, consistency and repeatability of the simulation systems engineering process. It supports this propositional statement with various publications that introduce model-based techniques and methodologies which address particular steps in the simulation engineering process.