FINAL PROGRAM 11th European Simulation Multiconference Istanbul, Turkey, June 1-4, 1997

Prof. Osman Balci
Department of Computer Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0106 USA
Phone: (540) 231-4841
E-mail: balci@vt.edu
Fax: (540) 231-6075

Abstract

Life cycle validation, verification, and testing (VV&T) is extremely important for the success of a simulation study. This Professional Development Seminar presents 15 principles of simulation VV&T, surveys more than 70 VV&T techniques, and describes how they can all be applied throughout the life cycle of a simulation study. The principles help the researchers, practitioners and managers better understand what VV&T are all about. They serve to provide the underpinnings for the VV&T techniques that can be used throughout the life cycle of a simulation study. Understanding and applying these principles is crucially important for the success of a simulation study. The processes and credibility assessment stages of the life cycle are described and the applicability of the VV&T techniques for each stage is stated.

Who should attend?

This PDS would be valuable for simulation practitioners, managers, researchers, and other professionals who are interested in building credible simulation models and conducting successful simulation studies.

Biography

OSMAN BALCI is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at (Virginia Tech) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU). He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Bogazici University (Istanbul, Turkey) in 1975 and 1977, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Syracuse University (N.Y.) in 1978 and 1981.

Dr. Balci is the Editor-in-Chief of two international journals: Annals of Software Engineering and World Wide Web; Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A) Area Editor of ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation; Simulation and Modeling Category Editor of ACM Computing Reviews; Associate Editor of INFORMS Journal on Computing; Associate Editor of Transactions on Operational Research; Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Sciences and Engineering; Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Operations Research/Computer Science Interfaces book series of Kluwer Academic Publishers.

He has served as: Chairman (1993-94) and Vice Chairman (1992-93) of the ORSA Computer Science Technical Section; General Chairman of the 1992 ORSA CSTS conference; Proceedings Editor of the 1990 Winter Simulation Conference; Program Chairman and Proceedings Editor of the SCS conference on Simulation Methodology and Validation, 1986-87; and Vice Chairman of ACM SIGSIM, 1985-87. He is currently a member of the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office (DMSO) VV&A technical working group.

Dr. Balci received the College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 1993 at VPI&SU and Teaching Excellence Award in 1988, 1991, and 1992 in his department at VPI&SU. He received a plaque for Distinguished Service from the Board of Winter Simulation Conference in 1990. He has published numerous technical articles and edited/co-edited four books. Dr. Balci has been a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on research grants and contracts sponsored by the U.S. Navy with a total funding of $1.2 million. His current research interests center on software engineering, visual simulation and modeling, and world wide web. Dr. Balci is a member of Alpha Pi Mu, Sigma Xi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, ACM, IEEE CS, and INFORMS.

Onur M. Ulgen, Production Modeling Corporation, USA
Edward Williams, Ford, USA
Ali Gunal, PMC,USA
Sanjay Upendram, PMC,USA

Abstract

Real-world applications of process and robotics (kinematics) simulation in vehicle assembly plants (body shop, paint shop, general assembly areas), stamping plants, casting plants, engine and transmission plants, warehouse and distribution centers, and supply- distribution chain management is given. Use of simulation during the different phases of an engineering project are addressed. The phases of an engineering project are identified as the conceptual design, detailed design, launching, and fully-operational phases. The specific application issues discussed include material handling, layout optimization, engineering design, scheduling, distribution, and management.

Biography

Onur M. Ulgen is the President of Production Modeling Corporation (PMC), a Detroit, Michigan, USA based simulation services company as well as a Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He received his Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1979. His present consulting and research interests include object oriented simulators, scheduling, layout optimization, and project management. Dr. Ulgen is a member IIE, INFORMS, SCS, PMI, and APICS. He has been a consultant to major international companies including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Aeroquip, National Steel, and Whirlpool.

Ali K. Gunal is a Systems Consultant at Production Modeling Corporation (PMC), an Industrial Engineering services firm servicing the manufacturing industry nationally and internationally. He received his Ph. D. degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1991. Prior to joining to PMC, he worked as an Operations Research Specialist for State of Washington. At PMC, he is involved in consulting services for the analysis, design, and operation of manufacturing systems using simulation and other Industrial Engineering tools. He is familiar with several simulation systems including AutoMod, Arena, Quest, Robcad, and Igrip. He is a member of INFORMS and SME.

Sanjay Upendram is a Systems Consultant at Production Modeling Corporation, Dearborn, MI. He received his masters degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station in 1993. He is currently pursuing his M.B.A from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His areas of interest include industrial engineering, marketing, and corporate strategy. He has five years of experience in applying discrete-event simulation, industrial engineering and finite capacity scheduling tools to various manufacturing, business and service industries. He also conducts workshops and training in the areas of project management, manufacturing simulation and finite capacity scheduling. He is a member of SME, IIE and the general secretary of the Michigan Simulation Users' Group.

Bernard P. Zeigler
AI and Simulation Research Group
Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, USA
email: zeigler@ece.arizona.edu
web: http://www-ais.ece.arizona.edu

Overview

The DEVS modelling and simulation formalism is originated in the early 70’s and it has become a well-established foundation for research in the field as well as framework for construction of simulation tools and environments. The DEVS working group includes researchers from all over the globe who exchange latest developments in theory, concepts and software. Implementations of DEVS exist as supersets over various languages such as Smalltalk, CLOS, C++, and others. Many commercial simulation tools have incorporated features such as hierarchical, modular construction, that were first demonstrated in the DEVS framework. An upcoming book, organized by the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, is adopting the framework originated in "Theory of Modelling and Simulation".

Zeigler’s first book "Theory of Modelling and Simulation" (Wiley,1976) is regarded as one of the foundational works in the field. It is currently being revised for a second edition. A second book "Mutifacetted Modelling and Discrete Event Simulation" (Academic Press, 1984), was given the outstanding simulation publication award by TIMS College on Simulation in 1988.

Concepts developed in earlier work are implemented in the DEVS simulation environment and applied to high autonomy issues in the latest book, "Object-oriented Simulation with Hierarchical, Modular Models: Intelligent Agents and Endomorphic Systems" .

Paul Lyon
Evans and Sutherland Computer Corp.
Salt Lake City, USA

Abstract:

This technical session concerning display system performance parameters for visual systems is structured for people interested in displays for flight simulators.

The technology briefing will focus on the subjects like: real system resolution versus pixel resolution, Aitoff Plots, Johnson’s criteria, collimated-image displays and head-tracked area of interest displays.

(c) SCS Europe, 1997. Authors: Ali Riza Kaylan, Alexander Verbraeck, SCS Europe Office. Last change: 03-02-03