Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Faculty of Computer Information, The Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences,
P O Box 13190, Amman 11942, JORDAN.
Email: eabutaieh@aabfs.org, a.elsheikh@aabfs.org
Abstract: This paper attempts to identify answers for numerous logically raised and thought out questions that
are stumbled upon when using any given simulations package whether that may be commercially in the market
or in the academic arena. For this purpose, the researchers have investigated 56 packages, with the aim of
tackling not only the trends that simulation packages are pursuing, but also to address the issues denoting
technology prevail. Accordingly, the surveyors identified a set of questions to be answered tackling the
following issues: use of spreadsheets as reporting tools, 3D vs. 2D animation, simulation approaches, and object
oriented. The manner in which the paper has been articulated was a systematic well thought methodology, with
scientifically proofed findings recapitulates in the summary part of this paper.
The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the Comparing commercial simulation packages is an
simulation packages available commercially in the important matter, (Oren, 2005), (Banks, 2005),
market and in the academic arena. The researcher (Survey, 2003) and (Rizzoli, 2003) tried to devise
tried to answer questions like: What simulation criteria of comparison through building Body of
modeling approach did the package use from the Knowledge for simulation. In fact, the comparison
available approaches: process interaction, event stems from different sources: the modeler, the user
scheduling, activity scanning, and three-phase, What of the simulation package, the programmer, and the
reporting tool did the package use i.e. Spreadsheets application. This research came to complement the
or propriety reporting tool, What programming work of others.
language was used, which will give an indication As such, the researchers tried to answer questions
whether the package is object oriented or like:
algorithmic based, and whether the package uses
animation and if the animation used is 2D or 3D What simulation modeling approach did the package
animation. In addition, the time handling (discrete, use from the available approaches? There are four
continuous, hybrid) issue was of curiosity to the well-known simulation-modeling approaches:
researcher, in view that the time handling is process interaction, event scheduling, activity
essential, particularly since four commercial scanning, and three-phase (Pidd, 1998). Each
packages only can handle the hybrid, as shall be approach has advantages and disadvantages,
seen in the next sections. inherently the advantages/ disadvantages of the
approach will haunt the commercial simulation
Throughout this paper, a review of 56 simulation package.
packages takes place. Accordingly, each package
has been studied by investigating the simulation The second question the paper tries to answer is
package website, as well as, the available literature What reporting tool did the package use? i.e.
from various published sources (Survey, 2003) and Spreadsheets or propriety reporting tool. Since
(Rizzoli, 2003). After thorough investigation, it has spreadsheets are important to commercial simulation
been noted that a number of the aforementioned packages, some even pride by saying “we start
points of comparison had been concealed, which can where spreadsheets left off.”
be due to information disclosure policies abided by The third question asked is: What programming
those software companies; particularly the language was used, which will give an indication
programming language and the simulation method whether the package is object oriented or
adopted by software companies in order to develop algorithmic based. In addition, such question is
their respective packages. important to any developer to know if the developer
can add to the package or intervene in the simulated The Event-Scheduling method is simpler and only
model in the code level or not. has two phases so there is no Cs and Bs, this allow
the program to run faster since there are no scanning
The fourth aspect is: Whether the package uses
for the condition nal events. All these advantages
animation and if the animation used is 2D or 3D
also tells us something about the disadvantages of
animation. Simulation does not mean animation.
the method since there are only two phase then all
Many will think that animation is part of simulation
events are mixed (no Bs and Cs) then the method is
that is not always true. As shall be seen in later
not parsimony, which means it is very hard to
sections, 3D animation is very important aspect of
enhance (Pidd,1998).
the simulation because it gives better perspective,
yet sometimes 2D is better. The Activity Scanning approach is also simpler than
the Three-Phase method since it has no calendar, and
In addition, the time handling (discrete, continuous,
it support the parsimonious modeling. However this
hybrid) (Pidd, 1998) issue was of curiosity to the
approach is much slower than Three-Phase since it
researcher, in view that the time handling is
treats all activities are treated as conditional. On the
essential, particularly since four commercial
other hand, the executive has two phases. Usually
packages only can handle the hybrid, as shall be
this approach is confused with the Three-Phase
seen in the next sections.
method (Pidd, 1998).
The sixth comparison criterion is the Applications of
The Process- Interaction “share two common
simulation packages. This is a criterion from the
advantages first; they avoid programs that are slow
perspective of the user of the simulation package.
to run. Second, they avoid the need to think through
Since Simulation & modeling is used in a multitude
all possible logical consequences of an event” (Pidd,
of applications. Many researchers attempted to
1998). Yet, as (Pidd, 1998) claims this approach
classify and categorize the simulation applications
suffers from DEADLOCK problem, but this
(Oren, 2005), (Banks, 2005) to name a few. In
approach is very attractive for novice modelers.
addition, such study gives a perspective regarding
Although, (Schriber et al, 2003). Says “process
the use of the package.
interaction was understood only by an elite group of
individuals and was beyond the reach of ordinary
3 FINDINGS programmers”. In fact (Schriber et al, 2003).adds
“.Multi- threaded applications were talked about in
The packages, which have been reviewed in the
computer science classes, but rarely used in the
context of this paper, are: Analytica, AnyLogic 5.0, broader community”. Which indicates that the
Arena, AutoMod, AweSim, Berkeley Madonna™, implementation of Process-Interaction was very
BuildSim, Crystal Ball Standard Edition& difficult to implement. The obvious contradiction,
Professional Edition, DecisionPro, DecisionScript, in the previous quote is due to the mix up between
Design II simulation Package, Dymola, Ecosim Pro,
the Process Interaction approach and the
eM-Plant, Enterprise Dynamics, ExpertFit, Extend, Transaction-flow approach.
Factory Explorer, FirstSTEP Designer, Flexsim,
GAUSS, GoldSim, GPSS World for Windows, To see the complete idea of the origins of
MAST, MICROSAINT, MyStartegy, ModelMaker, Transaction-Flow best stated by (Schriber et al,
NAG SMP Library, NAG C Library, Optsim 2003):
(Artifex), PASION Simulation System, MJC2,
This was the primordial soup out of which the
SLIM, Process Industry Manufacturing Scheduling
Gordon Simulator arose. Gordon’s transaction flow
System (PIMSS), ProModel-ProcessModel,
world-view was a cleverly disguised form of process
Proplanner Manufacturing Process Management
interaction that put the process interaction approach
Software, ProVision, PowerSim, QX3D, Resource
within the grasp of ordinary users. . Gordon did one
Manager, SAAM II, SansGUI Modeling and
of the great packaging jobs of all time. He devised a
Simulation Environment, SAS Software, ShowFlow,
set of building blocks that could be put together to
SIGMA, SimCreator, SimCAD Pro, SIMPROCESS,
build a flowchart that graphically depicted the
SIMUL8, STELLA / ithink, STARDIS, Supply
operation of a system. Under this modeling
Chain Builder, VisSim, Visual Simulation
paradigm, the flow of elements through a system was
Environment, WebGPSS (micro-GPSS) and
readily visible, because that was the focus of the
Witness.
whole approach.
3.1 Simulation Approaches
The Three-Phase approach allows to “simulate
There are four main renowned simulation parallelism, whilst avoiding deadlock” (Pidd and
approaches: Event-Scheduling method, Activity Cassel, 1998). Yet, Three-Phase has to scan through
Scanning, Process- Interaction, and Three-Phase the schedule for bound activities, and then scans
approach, in comparison, the following can be through all conditional activities which slow it
noted: down. Yet many forgo the time spent in return for
solving the deadlock problem. In fact, Three-Phase
is used in distributed systems weather talking about Ball, Design II, Factory Explorer, First step
operating systems, databases, etc, under different Designer, FlexSim, GoldSim, MyStartegy, Nag SMP,
names among them Three-Phase commit see Library, Nag C Library, ProModel, Recourses
(Tanenbaum and Steen, 2002). Manger, SimCAD, and ShowFlow.
In regards to the simulation approaches, only 22 Excel Usage in Simulation Packages
packages mentioned the simulation approach used in
the package, while 34 packages refrained from
mentioning their simulation approaches. Noting that
Excel; 15; 27%
among the 22 packages, almost 18 claimed the Event Excel
Based Approach, whereas, two simulation packages No Excel
No Excel; 41;
claimed the Activity Based Approach (FirstSTEP 73%
Designer, SIMPROCESS) and two claimed the
Process Interaction Simulation Approach (AutoMod
and ProModel-ProcessModel), as seen in Figure 1. Figure 2: Excel usage in simulation packages
The Features of complex systems in nature are: axon projections between regions inside the cortex
and to other brain regions.
Relationships are non-linear: In practical terms, this
means a small perturbation may cause a large effect May produce emergent phenomena: Complex
(butterfly effect), a proportional effect, or even no systems may exhibit behaviors that are emergent,
effect at all. In linear systems, effect is always which is to say that while the results may be
directly proportional to cause. deterministic, they may have properties that can only
be studied at a higher level. For example, the
Relationships contain feedback loops: Both negative
termites in a mound have physiology, biochemistry
(damping) and positive (amplifying) feedback are
and biological development that are at one level of
often found in complex systems. The effects of an
analysis, but their social behavior and mound
element's behavior are fed back to in such a way that
building is a property that emerges from the
the element itself is altered.
collection of termites and needs to be analyzed at a
Complex systems are open: Complex systems in different level.
nature are usually open systems — that is, they exist
Simulation packages that claimed Complex system
in a thermodynamic gradient and dissipate energy.
design evaluation are : AnyLogic 5.0, Arena,
In other words, complex systems are usually far
AutoMod, NAG SMP Library, SIGMA and Visual
from energetic equilibrium: but despite this flux,
Simulation Environment.
there may be pattern stability.
Computer and Communication Networks
Complex systems have a memory: The history of a
complex system may be important. Because Computer and communication networks are another
complex systems are dynamical systems they change application where simulation is very useful; in view
over time, and prior states may have an influence on that communication network cannot be built and
present states. More formally, complex systems tested by the same individual, while taking into
often exhibit hysteresis. consideration that beforehand testing of the
communication network is essential; however,
Complex systems may be nested: The components
experimentations in real life situation are nearly
of a complex system may themselves be complex
impossible. As such, a number of simulation
systems. For example, an economy is made up of
packages offer such service: AnyLogic 5.0, AweSim,
organizations, which are made up of people, which
ExpertFit, GPSS World for Windows, Optsim
are made up of cells - all of which are complex
(Artifex), SAS Software, SLIM, VisSim, Visual
systems.
Simulation Environment.
Boundaries are difficult to determine: It can be
Computer Performance Evaluation
difficult to determine the boundaries of a complex
system. The decision is ultimately made by the Understanding that computers are made of many
observer. components, and each component has many
different attributes from different manufacturer,
Dynamic network of multiplicity: As well as
accordingly, computer performance evaluation is
coupling rules, the dynamic network of a complex
another application where simulation would be of
system is important. Small-world or scale-free
paramount significance. Particularly since
networks which have many local interactions and a
experimenting with all the possible scenarios is
smaller number of inter-area connections are often
nearly impossible. As such, the commercial
employed. Natural complex systems often exhibit
simulation packages caught on this fact and two
such topologies. In the human cortex for example,
packages offered this application namely: AnyLogic
we see dense local connectivity and a few very long
5.0, Visual Simulation Environment.
De-bottlenecking
3%
systems are designed to deliver or provision packages are: Analytica and Design II simulation
services, but they often consume services as well. Package.
Packages that claim this application are: Arena,
Financial Modeling
ExpertFit, SIGMA and Visual Simulation
Environment. Financial modeling is broad application; it ranges
from mixing a financial portfolio of stocks to
Supply Chain Management
decisions regarding best financial decision of
This application is very broad, as it includes inter buy/sell. Five simulation packages claimed this
alia: Supply chain decisions support, inventory application, namely: Analytica, DecisionPro,
management, supply process optimization, internal DecisionScript, GAUSS and NAG SMP Library.
logistics, company spreading etc. Supply chain
Parcels & Parcel Handling (queue)
management is an application that cares for
efficiency and effectiveness and ranges from setting Parcel and parcel handling application is best seen in
up policies to operative decisions. Many simulation a post office arena. Each parcel has an destination
packages stake a claim to this application: AnyLogic address and certain attributes like size and fragility
5.0, Arena, Flexsim, MAST, Process Industry etc. Switching this scenario to production line in a
Manufacturing Scheduling System (PIMSS), SAS factory that produces a product that needs packaging
Software, SLIM, Supply Chain Builder and Visual is still the same. Six simulation packages claimed
Simulation Environment. this application: AutoMod, Enterprise Dynamics,
ExpertFit, Extend, SAS Software and SimCAD Pro.
Transportation Systems
De-bottlenecking
Transportation systems are expansive, as it ranges
from simulating traffic light and intersections to Bottlenecks appear when many compete for one
roads closing and diversions. Many simulation resource. Whether the resource is a server on a
packages claim this application i.e. AnyLogic 5.0, computer network, a loan officer in a bank or
AutoMod, Berkeley Madonna™, ExpertFit, NAG production machine in a factory. Four simulation
SMP Library, SLIM, VisSim, Visual Simulation packages claimed this application namely: eM-Plant,
Environment and Witness. Factory Explorer, ShowFlow, and SIMUL8.
Aerospace What if… scenarios
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and As the name of this application suggests, this
surrounding space. Typically, the term is used to application is a corner stone in the simulation arena.
refer to the industry that researches, designs, Yet only four packages mentioned this application
manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles by name. The packages are Arena, Resource
moving through this air and space. Aerospace is a Manager and SIMUL8.
very diverse field, with a multitude of commercial,
industrial and military applications. Aerospace is Robotic and Mechanical Systems
not the same as airspace, which is a term, used to Simulating Robotic and mechanical systems is much
describe the physical air space directly above a cheaper than building the system and testing it.
location on the ground. Four commercial simulation Packages like: Dymola, QX3D and SimCAD Pro
packages claimed this application namely: claimed such application.
Analytica, AutoMod, NAG C Library and QX3D.
Decision and Risk Analysis
Oil and Gas Making Decisions and risk analysis always come
hand in hand. Simulating the decisions and
This application pertains to Petroleum and well
logging software for the oil and gas professional. In measuring the risk that comes with each decision is
an application that comes with any arena of work
addition, this application covers many aspects yet
from project management, to financial analysis.
four packages claimed it: Analytica, Design II
simulation Package, NAG SMP Library and Witness. Many simulation packages like Analytica, Crystal
Ball Standard Edition& Professional Edition,
DecisionPro, and SIMPROCESS claimed such
Construction
application.
Construction is a series of carefully planned events,
Figure 8: Simulation Application packages gives
since construction technology uses materials, work,
more details tree-like taxonomy, each application
processes, and equipment to build a structure on a
categories and leafs reflect the packages that fall
site, as such, the Construction application simulation
under such application.
Education and training AnyLogic 5.0 NAG SMP Library PASION Simulation System STELLA / ithink VSE WebGPSS (micro-GPSS)
Complex system design evaluation AnyLogic 5.0 Arena AutoMod NAG SMP Library SIGMA VSE
Health care systems AutoMod ExpertFit MICROSAINT NAG SMP Library SIGMA VSE
Computer and communication networks AnyLogic 5.0 AweSim ExpertFit GPSS World for Windows
Supply chain management AnyLogic 5.0 Arena Flexsim MAST (PIMSS) SAS Software SLIM Supply Chain Builder VSE
Transportation systems AnyLogic 5.0 AutoMod Berkeley Madonna™ ExpertFit NAG SMP Library SLIM VisSim
Visual Simulation Environment Witness
Aerospace, Analytica AutoMod NAG C Library QX3D Witness
Oil & Gas Analytica Design II simulation Package NAG SMP Library
Parcels & parcel handling (queue) AutoMod Enterprise Dynamics ExpertFit Extend SAS Software SimCAD Pro
Decision and risk analysis Analytica Crystal Ball Standard Edition& Professional Edition DecisionPro SIMPROCESS
Business process reengineering Analytica Arena Crystal Ball Standard Edition & Professional Edition DecisionPro DecisionScript ExpertFit
and workflows
MyStartegy ProModel-ProcessModel ProVision SimCAD Pro STELLA / ithink VSE WebGPSS (micro-GPSS)
Manufacturing Analytica AutoMod ExpertFit Factory Explorer Flexsim GoldSim GPSS World for Windows MAST MICROSAINT
systems
NAG SMP Library Resource Manager (PIMSS) Proplanner Manufacturing Process Management Software
SIGMA SimCAD Pro Visual Simulation Environment
www.wwk.com/(Accessed 1-9-2003)