CIVIL ENGG.

DEPARTMENT
BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA ENGG.
COLLEGE
VALLABH VIDYANAGAR-388120

M.TECH - TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Topic: Simulation Software

SUBJECT- MODELLING, ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION-
TE504
FACULTY GUIDE- PROF. PINAKIN N. PATEL
PREPARED BY:-

Sr. Student Name ID No.

No.
1
1 Karan Dadhania 17TS805
2 CONTENT

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Comparison of Simulation Packages with
Programming Languages
3.3 Classification of Simulation Software
3.4 Desirable Software Features
3.5 General-Purpose Simulation Packages
3.6 Object-Oriented Simulation
3.7 Examples of Application-Oriented Simulation
Packages
3 3.1 INTRODUCTION

 Activities common to most simulations:

Random-number generation … draws from
U(0, 1) distribution
Random-variate generation … draws from
probability distributions specified as part of
the inputs to the model
Advancing simulated time
Determining the next event from the event list,
and passing control to the appropriate event
logic
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Adding records to lists, deleting records from

lists
Collecting output statistics and reporting
results
Detecting error conditions
 Simulation software packages are designed to do
these things (and more) for us
 3.2 COMPARISON OF
5
SIMULATION PACKAGES WITH
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

Advantages of simulation packages:

Provide most modeling features, so
“programming” effort, cost is reduced, often
significantly
Natural framework for simulation modeling
Usually make it easier to modify models
Better error detection for simulation-specific
errors
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Advantages of general-purpose programming

languages
More widely known, available
Usually executes faster … if well written
May allow more modeling flexibility
Software cost is usually lower
7 3.3 CLASSIFICATION OF
SIMULATION SOFTWARE
General-purpose vs. application-oriented packages
 Traditionally: simulation languages and simulators
 Languages were flexible but required programming,
simulators were easy to use but not very flexible
 Now, almost all simulation software uses graphical
interface so is relatively easy to use, learn
 Distinction now is between general-purpose
simulation software and applications-oriented
package
Specific applications include manufacturing, call
centers, telecommunications, etc.
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Modeling approaches
Event-scheduling approach – as in Chaps. 1
and 2
Can uses general programming languages, or some
simulation languages
During processing of an event, no simulated time
passes
Process-interaction approach
Now used by most simulation software
Instead of identifying events, identify entities (a.k.a.
processes) that are created, flow around or through
the system, maybe leave
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May have multiple realizations of an
entity/process
May have different kinds of
entities/processes
“Program” consists of a description of what
happens to the different kinds of processes
(including their entry and exit)
Usually expressed graphically, like a
flowchart
During processing of an entity/process,
simulated time usually passes
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Common modeling elements

Entities – represent customers, parts,
messages, paperwork, airplane, etc.
Attributes – Information stored with each
entity
Usually, every individual entity has the
same set of attributes, but the values differ
to distinguish the entities
Some attributes are automatic, others are
user-defined and user-maintained
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Resources – servers, machines, workers,

nodes, links, runways, gates, agents, clerks,
etc.
Queues – where entities wait if resources are
not available
12 3.4 DESIRABLE SOFTWARE
FEATURES
 Hardware and software requirements
Matches platform/OS – Windows, UNIX,
MacOS
 Animation and dynamic graphics
Concurrent vs. postprocessing
2D vs. 3D
Import CAD drawings
Display statistics, graphs dynamically during
execution
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 General capabilities
Modeling flexibility – ability to drill down to
lower levels of programming, create custom
modeling constructs
Ease of use
Hierarchical modeling – sub models
containing sub models, etc.
Fast execution speed
Ability to create user-friendly front/back ends
for template creation
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Run-time version for wide distribution of

model
Import/export data from/to other applications
Automatic execution of models for different
input-parameter combinations
Combined discrete/continuous modeling
Ability to initialize in other than empty & idle
state
Save state at end to re-start later
Affordable
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 Statistical capabilities
Adequate random-number generator for basic
U(0, 1) variates
Statistical properties, cycle length,
adequate streams and substreams
RNG seeds should have good defaults, be
fixed – not dependent on clock
Comprehensive list of input probability
distributions
Continuous, discrete, empirical
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 Ability to make independent replications

 Confidence-interval formation for output
performance measures:
Warmup
Experimental design
Optimum-seeking
 Customer support and documentation
 Output reports and graphics
Standard defaults, customizable – stored in
database for post processing
17 3.5 GENERAL-PURPOSE
SIMULATION PACKAGES
Two popular general-purpose simulation packages –
Arena and Extend
In each, builds a model of a small
manufacturing system
 Mentions some additional general-purpose
simulation packages
AweSim, Micro Saint, GPSS/SLX,
SIMPLE++, SIMUL8, Taylor Enterprise
Dynamics
18 3.6 OBJECT-ORIENTED
SIMULATION
 OO programming and OO simulation originated
in the same product – SIMULA, from the 1960s
 OO simulation has objects that interact as
simulation progresses through simulated time
 Objects contain data, methods
 Also have encapsulation, inheritance, etc.
 Recent software product for OO simulation –
MODSIM III
19 3.7 EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION-
ORIENTED SIMULATION
PACKAGES
 Oriented toward specific classes of applications –
see book for software packages for:
Manufacturing
Communications
Process reengineering and service systems
Health care
Call centers
Standalone animation – links to multiple
simulation-modeling packages
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