On the Business Models of Cloud-based Modelling and Simulation for Decision Support

Simulation modelling is one of the techniques used for decision support in a wide range of domains and cloud computing is beginning to make some impact on simulation modelling by enabling ubiquitous, convenient and on-demand access to a variety of computing services. The cloud-based modelling and simulation (CBMS) literature has focused on how to develop CBMS tools using existing technologies. While this technical aspect is important, understanding the business aspect of CBMS is instrumental for its adoption by users and for ensuring the sustainability of the broader CBMS service supply chain. This paper presents a review of the business models adopted by vendors that provide Web or mobile applications for simulation modelling. An analysis of the offerings of these vendors provides some insights into how cloud services can be provided and used as part of CBMS business models. The study is conducted by reviewing the websites of simulation vendors. This study fills a gap in the literature on the business aspect of CBMS by providing insights into CBMS business model patterns. It highlights the importance of developing innovative business models that can help generate new market opportunities and revenue streams along the CBMS service supply chain. It also stresses the role of contracting in addressing the reported challenges and risks underpinning the provision and use of CBMS services

On the Business Models of Cloud-based Modelling and Simulation for Decision Support

Simulation modelling is one of the techniques used for decision support in a wide range of domains and cloud computing is beginning to make some impact on simulation modelling by enabling ubiquitous, convenient and on-demand access to a variety of computing services. The cloud-based modelling and simulation (CBMS) literature has focused on how to develop CBMS tools using existing technologies. While this technical aspect is important, understanding the business aspect of CBMS is instrumental for its adoption by users and for ensuring the sustainability of the broader CBMS service supply chain. This paper presents a review of the business models adopted by vendors that provide Web or mobile applications for simulation modelling. An analysis of the offerings of these vendors provides some insights into how cloud services can be provided and used as part of CBMS business models. The study is conducted by reviewing the websites of simulation vendors. This study fills a gap in the literature on the business aspect of CBMS by providing insights into CBMS business model patterns. It highlights the importance of developing innovative business models that can help generate new market opportunities and revenue streams along the CBMS service supply chain. It also stresses the role of contracting in addressing the reported challenges and risks underpinning the provision and use of CBMS services

Hybrid Multiresolution Simulation & Model Checking: Network-On-Chip Systems

abstract: Designers employ a variety of modeling theories and methodologies to create functional models of discrete network systems. These dynamical models are evaluated using verification and validation techniques throughout incremental design stages. Models created for these systems should directly represent their growing complexity with respect to composition and heterogeneity. Similar to software engineering practices, incremental model design is required for complex system design. As a result, models at early increments are significantly simpler relative to real systems. While experimenting (verification or validation) on models at early increments are computationally less demanding, the results of these experiments are less trustworthy and less rewarding. At any increment of design, a set of tools and technique are required for controlling the complexity of models and experimentation. A complex system such as Network-on-Chip (NoC) may benefit from incremental design stages. Current design methods for NoC rely on multiple models developed using various modeling frameworks. It is useful to develop frameworks that can formalize the relationships among these models. Fine-grain models are derived using their coarse-grain counterparts. Moreover, validation and verification capability at various design stages enabled through disciplined model conversion is very beneficial. In this research, Multiresolution Modeling (MRM) is used for system level design of NoC. MRM aids in creating a family of models at different levels of scale and complexity with well-formed relationships. In addition, a variant of the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism is proposed which supports model checking. Hierarchical models of Network-on-Chip components may be created at different resolutions while each model can be validated using discrete-event simulation and verified via state exploration. System property expressions are defined in the DEVS language and developed as Transducers which can be applied seamlessly for model checking and simulation purposes. Multiresolution Modeling with verification and validation capabilities of this framework complement one another. MRM manages the scale and complexity of models which in turn can reduces V&V time and effort and conversely the V&V helps ensure correctness of models at multiple resolutions. This framework is realized through extending the DEVS-Suite simulator and its applicability demonstrated for exemplar NoC models.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Computer Science 201

The Effect of Modeling Simultaneous Events on Simulation Results

This thesis explores the method that governs the prioritizing process for simultaneous events in relation to simulation results for discrete-event simulations. Specifically, it contrasts typical discrete-event simulation (DES) execution algorithms with how events are selected and ordered by the discrete-event system specification (DEVS) formalism. The motivation for this research stems from a desire to understand how the selection of events affects simulation output (i.e., response). As a particular use case, we briefly investigate the processing of simultaneous events by the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration and Modeling (AFSIM), a military discrete-event combat modeling and simulation package. To facilitate the building of classic DEVS-based models, the python software package PythonPDEVS is used. Initial results indicate that the explicit modeling of how simultaneous events are selected as promoted by the DEVS formalism plays a significant role on simulation results

GM2MS4 : a transformation tool from goal-oriented models to system-of-systems mission simulation

Trabalho de conclusão de curso (graduação) — Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Ciência da Computação, 2021.System-of-Systems (SoS, ou em português: Sistema-de-Sistemas) são aqueles sistemas resultantes da integração de outros sistemas independentes (sistemas constituintes). A modelagem desses sistemas através de técnicas tradicionais de design de sistemas é uma tarefa árdua, levando em consideração as diversas for mas que estes sistemas contituintes podem participar em processos de SoS. Há algumas propostas de modelo na literatura, como o projeto mKaos[14], mas esses modelos não podem ser simulados ou conectados a aplicações externas à simula ção para que seja validado. A partir desse ponto, o presente trabalho propõe um modelo orientado a objetivos para SoS que: (i) foque nas missões que um SoS deve cumprir ao invés da visão arquitetural do sistema e (ii) possa ser convertido em um projeto MS4 capaz de simular os comportamentos extraídos do modelo de objetivos. Adicionalmente o designer poderá conectar o modelo MS4 a aplicações existentes para a execução da missão possa ser verificada. Uma ferramenta para essa con versão de modelos (GM2MS4) é provida juntamente a este manuscrito e é capaz de transformar o modelo de missões proposto em uma simulação MS4 que verifique o cumprimento da missão.System-of-Systems (SoS) are those systems resulted by the integration of other independent systems (constituent systems). Its modeling through traditional sys tem design approaches is a challenging tasks, considering the multiple ways that these constituent systems may participate on the SoS processes. There are some SoS model proposals on the literature, such as the mKaos[14] project, but these models cannot be simulated neither can be connected to external applications in order to validate it. Starting from this point, this work proposes a goal-oriented model for SoS that: (i) focuses on the missions that an SoS may accomplish, rather than its architectural view and (ii) can be converted into an MS4 project capable of simulating the behaviors extracted from the goal-model. Additionally, the designer may connect the MS4 model to existing applications in order to verify the mission execution. A tool for this model conversion (GM2MS4) is provided along with this manuscript and is capable of transforming the mission model proposed into an MS4 simulation that verifies the mission accomplishment

Conceptual Modeling of a Quantum Key Distribution Simulation Framework Using the Discrete Event System Specification

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a revolutionary security technology that exploits the laws of quantum mechanics to achieve information-theoretical secure key exchange. QKD is suitable for use in applications that require high security such as those found in certain commercial, governmental, and military domains. As QKD is a new technology, there is a need to develop a robust quantum communication modeling and simulation framework to support the analysis of QKD systems. This dissertation presents conceptual modeling QKD system components using the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism to assure the component models are provably composable and exhibit temporal behavior independent of the simulation environment. These attributes enable users to assemble and simulate any collection of compatible components to represent QKD system architectures. The developed models demonstrate closure under coupling and exhibit behavior suitable for the intended analytic purpose, thus improving the validity of the simulation. This research contributes to the validity of the QKD simulation, increasing developer and user confidence in the correctness of the models and providing a composable, canonical basis for performance analysis efforts. The research supports the efficient modeling, simulation, and analysis of QKD systems when evaluating existing systems or developing next generation QKD cryptographic systems

xDEVS: A toolkit for interoperable modeling and simulation of formal discrete event systems

Employing Modeling and Simulation (M&S) extensively to analyze and develop complex systems is the norm today. The use of robust M&S formalisms and rigorous methodologies is essential to deal with complexity. Among them, the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) provides a solid framework for modeling structural, behavior and information aspects of any complex system. This gives several advantages to analyze and design complex systems: completeness, verifiability, extensibility, and maintainability. DEVS formalism has been implemented in many programming languages and executable on multiple platforms. In this paper, we describe the features of an M&S framework called xDEVS that builds upon the prevalent DEVS Application Programming Interface (API) for both modeling and simulation layers, promoting interoperability between the existing platform-specific (C++, Java, Python) DEVS implementations. Additionally, the framework can simulate the same model using sequential, parallel, or distributed architectures. The M&S engine has been reinforced with several strategies to improve performance, as well as tools to perform model analysis and verification. Finally, xDEVS also facilitates systems engineers to apply the vision of model-based systems engineering (MBSE), model-driven engineering (MDE), and model-driven systems engineering (MDSE) paradigms. We highlight the features of the proposed xDEVS framework with multiple examples and case studies illustrating the rigor and diversity of application domains it can support

ICSEA 2021: the sixteenth international conference on software engineering advances

The Sixteenth International Conference on Software Engineering Advances (ICSEA 2021), held on October 3 - 7, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain, continued a series of events covering a broad spectrum of software-related topics. The conference covered fundamentals on designing, implementing, testing, validating and maintaining various kinds of software. The tracks treated the topics from theory to practice, in terms of methodologies, design, implementation, testing, use cases, tools, and lessons learnt. The conference topics covered classical and advanced methodologies, open source, agile software, as well as software deployment and software economics and education. The conference had the following tracks: Advances in fundamentals for software development Advanced mechanisms for software development Advanced design tools for developing software Software engineering for service computing (SOA and Cloud) Advanced facilities for accessing software Software performance Software security, privacy, safeness Advances in software testing Specialized software advanced applications Web Accessibility Open source software Agile and Lean approaches in software engineering Software deployment and maintenance Software engineering techniques, metrics, and formalisms Software economics, adoption, and education Business technology Improving productivity in research on software engineering Trends and achievements Similar to the previous edition, this event continued to be very competitive in its selection process and very well perceived by the international software engineering community. As such, it is attracting excellent contributions and active participation from all over the world. We were very pleased to receive a large amount of top quality contributions. We take here the opportunity to warmly thank all the members of the ICSEA 2021 technical program committee as well as the numerous reviewers. The creation of such a broad and high quality conference program would not have been possible without their involvement. We also kindly thank all the authors that dedicated much of their time and efforts to contribute to the ICSEA 2021. We truly believe that thanks to all these efforts, the final conference program consists of top quality contributions. This event could also not have been a reality without the support of many individuals, organizations and sponsors. We also gratefully thank the members of the ICSEA 2021 organizing committee for their help in handling the logistics and for their work that is making this professional meeting a success. We hope the ICSEA 2021 was a successful international forum for the exchange of ideas and results between academia and industry and to promote further progress in software engineering research

Skalierbarkeit einer Szenarien- und Template-basierten Simulation von Elektrik/Elektronik-Architekturen in reaktiven Umgebungen

Die Automobilindustrie befindet sich in einem Wandel. Zukünftige Fahrzeuge sind elektrisch, autonom, vernetzt, werden geteilt und regelmäßig aktualisiert. Die Auswirkung davon ist ein starkes Wachstum der Software in zukünftigen Fahrzeugen, das vor allem auf die Implementierung von autonomen Fahrerverhalten und herstellerspezifischen Betriebssystemen zurückzuführen ist. Zur sicheren Ausführung dieser Software werden leistungsstarke Zentralrechner benötigt. Daneben führen ein steigender Bedarf an Sicherheitsmechanismen gegen Cyberangriffe, der Einzug von Leistungselektronik und die notwendige Gewährleistung der Ausfallsicherheit zu einem Anstieg der Komplexität bei der Entwicklung von automobilen Elektrik/Elektronik-Architekturen (E/E-Architekturen). Im Bereich der Leistungselektronik liegt dies etwa an der benötigten Realisierung einer galvanischen Trennung zwischen Hochvolt- und Niedervoltnetz, um die Unversehrtheit der Insassen zu gewährleisten. Außerdem erfordert der Einsatz von permanenterregten Synchronmaschinen die sichere Auslegung und das Design entsprechender Schaltungen zur Ansteuerung. Cyberangriffe erfordern hingegen Mechanismen zur Abwehr und Gewährleistung der Informationssicherheit. Dazu zählen präventive Firewalls oder proaktive Angriffserkennungssysteme. Eine Ausfallsicherheit wird dagegen durch Komponenten- oder Informationsredundanz ermöglicht. Um entsprechende Ausfallmaßnahmen einzuleiten, kann zusätzlich die Implementierung eines entsprechenden Monitorings nötig sein. Im Zuge des Wandels wachsen die E/E-Architekturmodelle und weisen einen höheren Vernetzungsgrad auf. Dadurch haben E/E-Architekten mehr Designentscheidungen zu treffen, wobei Lösungen mehr Freiheitsgrade aufweisen und Auswirkungen schwieriger zu beurteilen sind. Jedoch müssen frühestmöglich im Entwicklungsprozess überprüfbar richtige Entscheidungen getroffen werden. Die Einführung frühzeitiger Tests in zukünftigen Zulassungsprozessen gibt dieser Anforderung ein weiteres Gewicht. In existierenden Arbeiten wurde gezeigt, dass eine in E/E-Architekturentwicklungswerkzeugen integrierte Simulationen einen Mehrwert für E/E-Architekten bei der frühzeitigen Findung von Designentscheidungen bietet. In dieser Arbeit werden dagegen die Grenzen der Skalierbarkeit einer solchen Simulation untersucht. Dies geschieht mithilfe von industriell relevanten Anwendungsfällen. Ein bestehender Ansatz zur automatisierten Synthese von Simulationsmodellen aus PREEvision-E/E-Architekturmodellen wird dabei unter Berücksichtigung der Anforderungen bei großmaßstäblichen Modellen erweitert und angepasst. Hierzu werden zunächst Simulatoren hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung für einen Einsatz im industriellen Umfeld untersucht. Dies erfolgt anhand in der Arbeit definierten Auswahlkriterien sowie mithilfe von synthetischen und skalierbaren Benchmarks. Im Anschluss werden Konzepte untersucht, welche die Erhöhung der Skalierbarkeit einer E/E-Architektursimulation adressieren. Zu den Aspekten der Skalierbarkeit gehören neben der Performanz auch die Anwendbarkeit und die Validierbarkeit, welche von der Emergenz generierter Modelle beeinflusst werden. Als Lösung werden in dieser Arbeit ausführbare Szenarienmodelle zur zustandsabhängigen Generierung von Stimuli und der reaktiven Evaluierung von Signalwerten verwendet. Durch deren Schnittstellen können gezielt die für einen Anwendungsfall relevanten Modellkomponenten der E/E-Architektur identifiziert werden, welche in Summe das sogenannte “System of Interest“ bilden. Auf diese Weise kann die Simulationsmodellgröße reduziert werden. Darüber hinaus werden parametrisierbare, pre-validierte und performanzoptimierte Teilmodelle, sogenannte „Templates“, bei der Generierung verwendet. Neben einer manuellen Zuweisung der Templates zu E/E-Architekturmodellkomponenten über die in dieser Arbeit verwendeten Template And Layer Integration Architecture (TALIA), haben spezifische Komponenten auf der Leistungssatzebene, wie Batterien, Stecker oder Kabel, bereits Standard-Templates zugewiesen. Simulationsmodelle können dadurch ohne manuelle Verhaltensmodellierung und zugehörige Validierung generiert werden. Damit Standard-Templates verwendet werden können, wird eine Hardware-zentrierte Abbildung verfolgt. Die physikalische E/E-Architektur aus der Realität bildet dabei die Grundlage für die generierten Simulationsmodelle. Softwaremodelle werden ergänzend über die Modelle der Steuergeräte bzw. ECUs integriert. Ebenso sind die Szenarienmodelle nach der Generierung ein Teil der Simulationsmodelle. Damit findet die Integration unterschiedlicher E/E-Architekturebenen statt, wodurch hybride Simulationsmodelle entstehen. Für die Evaluation werden Anwendungsfälle für Simulationen aus möglichen Designentscheidungsfragen abgeleitet und anhand definierter Kriterien für die weitere Betrachtung ausgewählt. Designentscheidungsfragen ergeben sich beim Technologieentscheid, der Dimensionierung von Komponente oder bei Optimierungen. Die Anwendungsfälle bestimmen das benötigte Testmodell, bestehend aus dem zu evaluierenden System of Interest und dem Prüfstandmodell, realisiert als Szenariomodell. Da das Testmodell die Basis des Simulationsmodells bildet und damit dessen Komplexität bestimmt, lässt sich anhand der Anwendungsfälle die Skalierbarkeit der E/E-Architektursimulation beurteilen. Insbesondere wird in dieser Arbeit der Einfluss emergenter Modelleigenschaften auf die Skalierbarkeit untersucht

e-Sanctuary: open multi-physics framework for modelling wildfire urban evacuation

The number of evacuees worldwide during wildfire keep rising, year after year. Fire evacuations at the wildland-urban interfaces (WUI) pose a serious challenge to fire and emergency services and are a global issue affecting thousands of communities around the world. But to date, there is a lack of comprehensive tools able to inform, train or aid the evacuation response and the decision making in case of wildfire. The present work describes a novel framework for modelling wildfire urban evacuations. The framework is based on multi-physics simulations that can quantify the evacuation performance. The work argues that an integrated approached requires considering and integrating all three important components of WUI evacuation, namely: fire spread, pedestrian movement, and traffic movement. The report includes a systematic review of each model component, and the key features needed for the integration into a comprehensive toolkit