re MODEL REPRESENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN COMPUTER SIMULATION ...

["K. Pawlikowski" <krys@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz>]

Dear Colleagues,

MODEL REPRESENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN COMPUTER SIMULATION

I am researching into the above topic at the School of Engineering,
Sheffield Hallam University, UK with a view of aiming to develop a
methodology to represent & document models in simulation.

During the modelling process in simulation, the modeller makes many
important decisions about the model and the background information of
the
system being modelled. Those details enable not only the modeller to
better
understand the model and the results produced but also the potential
users
to better interpret the implemented model without direct assistance from
the
model author. But, I THINK, yet they routinely go unrecorded or do
intuitively and consequently the final model remains ill defined and
open to
varying interpretations.

Further, there seems to be a trend in re-using simulation models for
various
applications. For example, this issue is often occurs in the field of
simulation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, when different systems
with
some similar features have to be managed. However, some researches argue
that often, all the efforts and costs incurred during the simulation
models,
which have second life though, are forgotten once the results of the
simulation determined. So, I THINK, this was mainly due to unrecorded
details of the model and its background and consequently, model
modification
or reuse becomes extremely difficult task without the benefit of
recorded/documented knowledge that went into construct the model.

In view of these, I have recently started the research to develop a
methodology for model representation and documentation and I'm now
collecting facts so as to justify the research proposal and
investigating
methodology for possible interpretation. Being a junior researcher in
the
research community, I would like to invite you to;

1. Comment about such a need of a formal method for model representation
and
documentation in simulation, particularly applicable to Manufacturing.

2. Discuss any capabilities available in the existing software OR any
method
used in general for model documentation purpose, if known to you.

3. Recommend possible methodology/approach for model documentation.

4. Advise on any other pointers, recommendation or critique in pursuing
this
research.

I would be much appreciated to you, if you could consider this request
kindly and response with pleasure.

Thanks in advance and for your time.

I look forward to hearing you with valuable details in the future.

Yours truly

S.M. Piyasena
Researcher
School of Engineering
Sheffield Hallam University
City Campus
Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB
UK

E Mail: piyasenas@hotmail.com (more preferable)
        Piyasena@shu.ac.uk (gives a little problem at the moment)
Tel:  +44 114 225 3091 (please ask for SAM)
Fax: +44 (0) 114 225 3433
To members of COSC/Management/Maths research group on stochastic simulation, 
and anybody else interested in research in this area

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		Associate Professor  Krzysztof Pawlikowski

	Department of Computer Science,  University of Canterbury
 			Christchurch, New Zealand
		
ph.  +(64) 3 3642 987 ext.7772  email:   krys@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz 
fax. +(64) 3 3642 569      URL:     http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~krys

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