Computer Simulation

Computer Simulation
Outline
 The Nature of Simulations

 Application Areas of Computer Simulation
 Advantages with Computer Simulation
 Drawbacks with Computer Simulation
 Pitfalls with Computer Simulation
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The Nature of Simulations
“The process of designing a mathematical or logical

model of a real system and then conduct computer-based
experiments with the model to describe, explain, and
predict the behavior of the real system”
T. H. Naylor et al., Computer Simulation Techniques, John Wiley and Sons, 1966.
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 A computer simulation imitates the operation of various
kinds of real-world facilities or physical processes.
 In order to study it scientifically one have to make a set of

assumptions about how the system works.
 These assumptions usually take the form of mathematical

or logical relationships that constitutes a model of the
real-world system.
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 The model are simple enough, it may be possible to use
analytic methods to obtain an exact answer on questions
of interest.
 However, most real-world systems are too complex to

be evaluated analytically (only a very limited set of
algebraic equations can be solved analytically) and these
must be studied by means of simulation.
 In a simulation a computer is used to evaluate a model

numerically where data is gathered to estimate the
characteristics of the model.
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Computer Simulation
Simulators are computer models of real or proposed products which react differently depending
on the input data that is entered. In this way products can be tested in a virtual environment
prior to full production so design problems can be identified and modifications made.
Aircraft Flight Simulator – This type

of computer model can be used for This computer simulation model
testing how the real airplane will shows airflow over an engine.
perform prior to manufacture or for
pilot training.
Application Areas of Computer Simulation
 Designing and analyzing manufacturing systems
 Evaluate military systems or logistics requirements.
 Determining requirements or evaluating protocols for
communication protocols.
 Determining hardware and software requirements for
a computer systems.
 Designing and operating transportation systems such
as airports, freeways, ports and subways.
 Evaluating designs for service organizations such as
contact centers, fast-food restaurants, hospitals, post
offices.
 Reengineering of business processes
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Application Areas of Computer Simulation
 Analyzing supply chains
 Determining ordering policies for inventory systems
 Analyzing mining operations
 Flight Simulators (plane or helicopter); help train
pilots.
 Car Simulators; help learner drivers.
 Test new car body shapes; see how wind will flow
over car (aerodynamics)
 Test how cars will react in a crash situation.
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Advantages with Computer Simulation
 Most complex, real world systems with stochastic elements
cannot be accurately described by a mathematical model
that can be evaluated analytically, simulation is the only
available type of evaluation.
 Simulation allow one to estimate the performance of an
existing system under some projected set of operation
conditions.
 Alternative proposed system designs can be pre-evaluated
via simulation to see which design that meets the system
requirements best.
 Much better control over experimental conditions can be
maintained in a simulation than experimenting with a real
system.
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Advantages with Computer Simulation
 Flight Simulators (plane or helicopter); help train
pilots.
 Car Simulators; help learner drivers.
 Test new car body shapes; see how wind will flow
over car (aerodynamics)
 Test how cars will react in a crash situation.
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Drawbacks with Computer Simulation
 Models to study large-scale systems tend to be very
complex, writing computer programs that execute these
models can be a very tedious and hard task.
 A second problem is that the computational complexity

of large scale simulations, extremely large amount of
computer time is sometimes required.
 Verification of the correctness of the simulation model

and its implementation can be hard to accomplish.
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Drawbacks with Computer Simulation
 There exist an impression that simulation is just an
exercise in computer programming (a complicated one).
• Consequently, many simulation studies have been composed of
ad hoc models, ad hoc implementation and just run the simulator
once to obtain the answer, attitude.
• This attitude, which neglects the important issue of how a properly
coded model should be used, has doubtless led to that erroneous
conclusions have been drawn in many simulation studies.
 Stochastic simulation models produce output that is itself

random, and must therefore be treated as only an
estimate of the true characteristics of the model. This is
one of the disadvantages of simulation.
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Pitfalls with Computer Simulation
 Failure to have a well-defined set of objectives at the
beginning of the simulation.
 Inappropriate level of model detail.
 Failure to communicate with management throughout the
course of the simulation study.
 Misunderstanding of simulation by the management.
 Treating simulation as if it were primarily an exercise in
computer programming.
 Failure to have people with a knowledge of simulation
methodology and statistics on the modeling team.
 Failure to collect good system data, e.g. not enough data
to create a good model.
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Pitfalls with Computer Simulation
 Inappropriate simulation software.
 Belief that easy-to-use simulation tools require a
significantly lower level of technical competence.
 Failure to account correctly for sources of randomness in
the system under consideration.
 Using arbitrary random distributions as input to the
simulation.
 Analyzing the output from the simulation using formulas that
assumes independence.
 Making single replication of a particular system design and
treating the output statistics as true answers.
 Comparing alternative system designs on the basis of one
replica for each design.
 Using wrong performance measures.
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Computer Simulation

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Computer Simulation

 The Nature of Simulations

“The process of designing a mathematical or logical

 In order to study it scientifically one have to make a set of

 These assumptions usually take the form of mathematical

 However, most real-world systems are too complex to

 In a simulation a computer is used to evaluate a model

Aircraft Flight Simulator – This type

 A second problem is that the computational complexity

 Verification of the correctness of the simulation model

 Stochastic simulation models produce output that is itself

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