A unique guide to the design and implementation of simulation software
This book offers a concise introduction to the art of building simulation software, collecting the most important concepts and algorithms in one place. Written for both individuals new to the field of modeling and simulation as well as experienced practitioners, this guide explains the design and implementation of simulation software used in the engineering of large systems while presenting the relevant mathematical elements, concept discussions, and code development.
The book approaches the topic from the perspective of Zeigler's theory of modeling and simulation, introducing the theory's fundamental concepts and showing how to apply them to engineering problems. Readers will learn five necessary skills for building simulations of complicated systems:
- Working with fundamental abstractions for simulating dynamic systems
- Developing basic simulation algorithms for continuous and discrete event models
- Combining continuous and discrete event simulations into a coherent whole
- Applying strategies for testing a simulation
- Understanding the theoretical foundations of the modeling constructs and simulation algorithms
The central chapters of the book introduce, explain, and demonstrate the elements of the theory that are most important for building simulation tools. They are bracketed by applications to robotics, control and communications, and electric power systems; these comprehensive examples clearly illustrate how the concepts and algorithms are put to use. Readers will explore the design of object-oriented simulation programs, simulation using multi-core processors, and the integration of simulators into larger software systems.
The focus on software makes this book particularly useful for computer science and computer engineering courses in simulation that focus on building simulators. It is indispensable reading for undergraduate and graduate students studying modeling and simulation, as well as for practicing scientists and engineers involved in the development of simulation tools.
About the Author:
Arthur L. Caplan is the Ors William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and Head of the Division of Bioethics at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City. He is the author or editor of 30 books and more than 550 papers in refereed journals. His most recent books are Smart Mice Not So Smart People (2006) and the Penn Guide to Bioethics (2009).
Robert Arp is co-editor of Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Biology (2009), author of Scenario Visualization: An Evolutionary Account of Creative Problem Solving (2008), and co-editor of Information and Living Systems: Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives (2011).
