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Key research themes
1. How do different simulation paradigms (System Dynamics, Discrete Event, Agent-Based) compare and when is each most appropriate?
This research theme focuses on the taxonomy and comparative analysis of major simulation modeling paradigms used in operational research and system analysis. Understanding the distinctions, strengths, and limitations of System Dynamics (SD), Discrete Event Simulation (DES), and Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) provides insights into selecting and applying the appropriate method for complex and variable systems based on features, model structure, and software tools. This comparative framework is crucial due to the growing use and diversity of simulation methodologies across different disciplines and applications.
Key finding: This paper systematically compares SD, DES, and ABS through a constructed taxonomy focusing on their features, advantages, disadvantages, and typical software tools (e.g., Vensim, ProModel, AnyLogic). It highlights that SD... Read more
Key finding: This foundational tutorial emphasizes that simulation modeling requires a blend of art and science to accurately represent discrete systems through models that capture time-dependent system behavior. It defines simulation as... Read more
Key finding: This paper provides a practical method to construct discrete event simulation systems using general-purpose languages with pointer support, exemplified with C on a PDP-11/34. It elucidates fundamental mechanisms such as time... Read more
2. What are effective strategies for simulation software selection and leveraging cloud-based simulation infrastructures?
This theme addresses the evaluation, selection, and deployment of simulation software, reflecting the evolution from traditional monolithic tools toward cloud-enabled, scalable, and user-centered platforms. It emphasizes the development of structured frameworks, such as AHP-based criteria, to assist decision-makers (especially SMEs) in selecting simulation software matching their specific industrial or research needs. Concurrently, innovations in cloud computing lead to more accessible, resource-scalable simulation experimentation, which can greatly enhance the speed and breadth of simulation studies while presenting challenges in optimization and resource management.
Key finding: This paper presents an updated, systematic framework employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for evaluating and selecting simulation software packages based on usability criteria aligned with organizational goals rather... Read more
Key finding: This article reports on cloud computing applications that enable accelerated simulation experimentation by distributing simulation runs across on-demand cloud resources. It discusses practical challenges such as non-linear... Read more
Key finding: This study evaluates the deployment of simulation communication environments within cloud infrastructures (specifically Amazon EC2) for distributed simulations in sociotechnical systems. It highlights issues related to... Read more
3. How is simulation applied as an educational and improvement tool in healthcare and other learning environments?
This research theme explores the use of simulation as an experiential, safe, and immersive technique for education, especially in healthcare, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical skills acquisition and decision-making. The focus extends to educational design principles, including explorative learning environments, curriculum development, and assessment frameworks aligned with competency goals. Additionally, simulation's emerging role in healthcare improvement is highlighted, including safety, teamwork, human factors, and systemic interventions, emphasizing the challenge of linking education, technology, and organizational improvement.
Key finding: This paper conceptualizes simulation as an artificial representation of real-world processes aimed at experiential learning and skill acquisition, delineating a 'Circle of Learning' framework progressing from knowledge... Read more
Key finding: Expanding beyond education, this element advocates for simulation's use as a healthcare improvement method, enabling system exploration, testing of infrastructural changes, and embedding improvement culture. It analyzes... Read more
Key finding: Based on the Essen Learning Model (ELM), this paper proposes design principles for computer-supported learning environments in simulation education, specifically targeting graduate education in business information systems.... Read more
Key finding: This paper compares historical and contemporary perspectives on simulation education needs by analyzing survey data from the mid-1970s and a 1997 workshop on modeling and simulation professionals. Persistent issues around... Read more