Computer Simulations Important concepts What is a computer simulation? What is involved in the process of creating a simulation? Example simulations A portion of these notes were based on the book "Computer Simulation" by Watson and Blackstone

What Is Simulation? Recreating behaviour by an analogous model or situation to gain information more conveniently or to train personnel.

What Is A Computer Simulation? A computer model of the real world Consists of three steps Design Execution Analysis Processing Inputs Outputs

Types Of Simulation Models All models Symbolic Physical Iconic Verbal Mathematical Analog

Why Simulate? Complex systems Dangerous experiments Controlled conditions Cost savings

Example Simulations Air Canada Treasury NASA Simulations Simulations on the web

Air Canada Treasury

NASA Simulations: Design Photo from http://encounter.arc.nasa.gov Photo from http://ncam.msfc.nasa.gov

NASA Simulations: Training on VMS Images from http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/vs.

NASA Simulations: Space Missions Photos from http://www.nasaexplores.com

A Simulation On The Web: Near-Beer http://broadcast.forio.com/sims/nearbeer/

A Simulation On The Web: Astronomy http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/astro101/java/simulations.htm

Summary What is required to create a computer simulation? Design, Execution, Analysis Type of simulations Physical – iconic or analog Symbolic – verbal or mathematical Why create simulations? Complexity, danger, control, cost savings