Chapter-1 Introduction To Simulation
Chapter-1 Introduction To Simulation
Introduction to
Simulation and Modeling
October 2019
Pre-Requisites
• Probability
• MS-Excel
• Programming skills
Textbook
• Author: Averill M. Law
• Title: “Simulation Modeling and Analysis”, Fourth Edition
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
• Year: 2007
Notes:
- The codes in this book are written in C++. However, simulations throughout
the course will be done using Excel. Ideas from this book will be used
-
Course Outline
• Introduction to simulation
• Simulation examples in Excel spreadsheets
• General principles of simulation
• Statistical models in simulation
• Queuing models
• Random number generation
• Random variate generation
• Monte-Carlo simulation
Lecture (1)
Introduction to
Systems and
Simulation
Introduction to Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of a real-world process or
system over time [Banks et al.]
It is used for analysis and study of complex systems
Simulation requires the development of a simulation
model and then conducting computer-based experiments
with the model to describe, explain, and predict the
behaviour of the real system
What is Simulation
• The SIMULATION is the process of designing a mathematical or
logical model of the real system and then conducting computer-
based experiments with the model to describe, explain, and predict
the behavior of the real system.
System Environment
• A system is affected by changes that occur outside its boundaries.
Such changes are said to occur in the system environment
• The boundary between the system and its environment
depend on the purpose of the study
• Example: Bank System
- There is a limit on the maximum interest rate that can
be paid
- For a study of a single bank, this would be an example of a constraint
imposed by the environment
- For a study of the effect of monetary laws on the banking industry.
Systems
Systems: a group of objects joined together in some
regular interaction or interdependence towards the
accomplishment of some purpose
Example: A production system
manufacturing automobiles.
Machines, components and
workers operate jointly to
produce vehicles
System Components
Object of interest
in the system
Entity
An instantaneous
occurrence that may Property of an
Event Attribute entity
change the state of
the system
System
Endogenous:
Activities and events occurring
within a system
Attribute:
State Variables:
# busy tellers, # customers
waiting in line or being served,
Example Balance in the customers’ accounts
Object:
Customers
Activity:
Making deposits
Events:
Arrival, departure
Examples
System Entities Attributes Activities Events State Variables
Arrival at station,
Number of passengers
Railway Passengers Origin, destination Traveling arrival at
waiting at each station
destination
Number of packets
Arrival at
Communications Messages Length, destination Transmitting waiting to be
destination
transmitted
Experiment
with a Model
of the System
Mathematical
Physical Model
Model
Analytical
Simulation
Solution
Why are Models Used?
• It is not possible to experiment with the actual system, e.g.: the
experiment is destructive
• The system might not exist, i.e. the system is in the design stage
Example: Bank
- Reducing the number of tellers to study the effect on the length of
waiting lines may annoy the customers such that they will move their
accounts to a competitor
Types of Models
• A Mathematical Model utilizes symbolic notations and equations to
represent a system
- Example: current and voltage equations are mathematical models of
an electric circuit
• A Physical Model is a larger or smaller version of an object
- Example: enlargement of an atom or a scaled version of the solar
system
Classifications of Simulation
Static ModelsDynamic
Deterministic Stochastic
Discrete Continuous
Static and Dynamic Models
Static Dynamic
• i.e. Monte Carlo • Represents systems as
Simulation – Represents they change over time
a system at a particular • Example: The
point in time simulation of a bank
• Example: Simulation of from 9:00am – 4:00pm
a coin toss game
Deterministic and Stochastic
Models
Deterministic Stochastic
Discrete Continuous
State variables change State variables change
instantaneously at constantly with respect to
separated points in time time
3 4
Model Conceptualization Data Collection
5
Model Translation
No 6
Verified
Yes
No 7 No
Validated
8 Yes
Experimental Design
9
Production Runs and Analysis
11 12
Yes 10 No Documentation
More Runs and Reporting Implementation