1. New Mexico Computer Science For All Abstraction in Modeling and Simulation Maureen Psaila-Dombrowski

2. Abstraction Abstraction is Simplification Why? ▫“Real world” problems are too complicated ▫Must simply in order to model ▫Ignoring some details or parts so that you can focus on what is important to you at that time. ▫As your interests change the amount of abstraction you need can change too.

3. Assumptions Abstraction involves assumptions (things that you take to be true).  Before abstraction  During abstraction  After abstraction during model development Assumptions are what the modeler assumes when moving from the real world problem to a model.  Sometimes a simplification  Sometimes a specification Assumptions need to be carefully considered  Affect the outcome of the model  Should be validated

4. Pond Ecosystem

5. Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem o Living  Rabbit Characteristics Birth Death Metabolism Infection  People  Plants  Other animals  Microscopic There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Nonliving  Water  Soil  Weather  Disasters  Pollution

6. Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem o Living  Rabbit Characteristics Birth Death Metabolism Infection  People  Plants  Other animals  Microscopic There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Nonliving  Water  Soil  Weather  Disasters  Pollution

7. Run simple rabbit model

8. Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem o Living  Rabbit Characteristics Birth Death Metabolism Infection  People  Plants (+ regrowing)  Other animals  Microscopic There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Nonliving  Water  Soil  Weather  Disasters  Pollution

9. Run more advanced rabbit model

10. Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem o Living  Rabbit Characteristics Birth ▫Birth rate Death Metabolism Infection  People  Plants (+ regrowing) ▫Caloric value or energy  Other animals ▫Birth rate  Microscopic There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Nonliving  Water  Soil  Weather  Disasters  Pollution

11. Summary Abstraction is required for modeling Can vary the amount of abstraction as needed Abstraction involves assumption. Assumptions can affect the outcome of the model