Modelling and simulation. Exploring dynamic system behaviour (Q357123)

The book is an expanded second edition of [Zbl 1138.68649]. Modelling and simulation require the construction of a conceptual model which from one side is sufficiently transparent for the characterization of the system's behaviour, from another side can serve as specification for a computer program providing the means for carrying out the simulation study. These requirements place constraints on the format used to formulate the conceptual model. The book presents such a framework called ABCmod (Activity-Based Conceptual modelling), activities serve to capture the relevant tasks that are carried out within the system. In the book there are 10 chapters collected into three parts. Part I (Fundamentals) consists of two chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction, it contains the background material. Chapter 2 describes the steps of modelling simulation process: project description, project goals, conceptual model, simulation model, simulation program, verification and validation, quality assurance. Part II (Discrete Event Dynamic Systems (DEDS) modelling and simulation) consists of five chapters. Chapter 3 concerns the random behaviour and variables associated with it. Chapter 4 is the presentation of a framework for the conceptual model in the DEDS domain, this is the activity-based ABCmod conceptual modelling framework. Chapter 5 introduces the traditional World Views (perspectives that can be adopted by the model builder in the simulation model formulation process) and shows how an ABCmod conceptual model is transformed into a simulation one. Chapter 6 presents the Activity-Object World View giving possibility to create a simulation model directly from an ABCmod conceptual one. Chapter 7 describes how to organize the experimentation activity to acquire the performance measures. Part III deals with the modelling and simulation of continuous time dynamic systems (CTDS). Here the conceptual model includes a set of differential equations, so it leads to their numerical solutions. Chapter 8 formulates a range of simple CTDS conceptual models. Chapter 9 gives an overview of basic numerical tools to solve ordinary differential equations. Chapter 10 deals with optimization problems to find parameter values to minimize the performance function. At the end there are given the basic facts from the probability theory and guides to GPSS and MATLAB. In the text there are several examples, each chapter includes exercises, and there exists a website providing access to supplementary material.