Modelling and simulation provides invaluable support for the design and evaluation of dynamic systems, offering multi-faceted tools that are unconstrained by discipline boundaries.

This fully updated and expanded new edition of Modelling and Simulation presents a practical introduction to the fundamental aspects of modelling and simulation. It provides the necessary foundations both for those wishing to learn about this methodology and also for those who have a need to apply it in their work. Illustrative examples are drawn from projects formulated within the domains of both discrete-event dynamic systems and continuous-time dynamic systems.

Topics and features:

• Presents a project-oriented (i.e., goal-based) perspective on modelling and simulation
• Describes an updated novel activity based conceptual modelling framework (the ABCmod framework) for discrete-event dynamic systems
• Includes a new chapter that presents a novel world view, the Activity-Object world view, which eases the translation of a conceptual model specification in the ABCmod framework into a simulation program
• Contains numerous illustrative examples and useful algorithms, in addition to exercises and projects at the end of most chapters
• Includes a primer on probability, a concise guide to the GPSS programming environment and an overview of relevant MATLAB features in the appendices
• Provides supplementary software and teaching support material at an associated website, including lecture slides and a methodology for organizing student projects

Students at the senior undergraduate or junior graduate level will find this hands-on textbook/reference to be an essential guide to the fundamentals of modelling and simulation. It is also ideally suited for self-study by professionals seeking insight into the vast potential of this rapidly evolving problem-solving paradigm.

Louis G. Birta is Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering, and Co-Associate Director of the McLeod Institute of Simulation Sciences.

Gilbert Arbez is a Teaching Associate in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, at the University of Ottawa, ON, Canada.

This textbook presents a practical introduction to the fundamental aspects of modelling and simulation. It provides the necessary foundations both for those wishing to learn about this methodology and also for those who have a need to apply it in their work. Illustrative examples are drawn from projects formulated within the domains of both DEDS and CTDS. Features: presents a project-oriented perspective; describes an activity-based conceptual modelling framework (ABCmod) for DEDS; includes a new chapter that presents a novel world view, the Activity-Object world view, which eases the translation of a conceptual model specification in the ABCmod framework into a simulation program; contains numerous illustrative examples, useful algorithms, exercises and projects; includes a primer on probability, a concise guide to the GPSS programming environment and an overview of relevant MATLAB features in the appendices; provides supplementary software and teaching support material at an associated website.

Part I: Fundamentals

Introduction

The Modelling and Simulation Process

Part II: DEDS Modelling and Simulation

DEDS Stochastic Behaviour and Modelling

A Conceptual Modelling Framework for DEDS

DEDS Simulation Model Development

The Activity-Object World View for DEDS

Experimentation and Output Analysis

Part III: CTDS Modelling and Simulation

Modelling of Continuous Time Dynamic Systems

Simulation with CTDS Models

Optimization

Probability Primer

GPSS Primer

MATLAB Primer