Business Process Simulation: Transformation of BPMN 2.0 to Discrete Event System Specification

Theoretical modeling is a complicated characteristic of a simulation study that straight affects the quality and effectiveness of simulation projects. This paper presents a model to model transformation from a conceptual modeling language to a simulation model specification. BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is worn for theoretical modeling and DEVS (Discrete Event System Specification) is elected for simulation model requirement. Simulation is a dynamic feature of MDSE and which explains the need of coherent M&S formalisms for simulation activities.Accordingly, this paper presents the simulation of service systems based on DEVS models. It defines a transformation approach of BPMN models into DEVS simulation models based on the metamodel approach, and describes the enrichment of obtained DEVS models through performance indicators (time and costs)

Model Continuity in Discrete Event Simulation: A Framework for Model-Driven Development of Simulation Models.

Most of the well known modeling and simulation methodologies state the importance of conceptual modeling in simulation studies and they suggest the use of conceptual models during the simulation model development process. However, only a limited number of methodologies refers to howto move from a conceptual model to an executable simulation model. Besides, existing modeling and simulation methodologies do not typically provide a formal method for model transformations between the models in different stages of the development process. Hence, in the current M&S practice, model continuity is usually not fulfilled. In this article, a model driven development framework for modeling and simulation is in order to bridge the gap between different stages of a simulation study and to obtain model continuity. The applicability of the framework is illustrated with a prototype modeling environment and a case study in the discrete event simulation domain

Computer-aided design for building multipurpose routing processes in discrete event simulation models

Good domain-modeling enables an appropriate separation of concerns that improves quality properties in the simulation models, such as modifiability and maintainability. In this paper, the interplay of abstraction and concreteness in advancing the theory and practice of Modelling and Simulation is improved using the Model-Driven Engineering levels for building simulation models devoted to routing processes. The definition of this type of processes is detailed as a domain-model conceived as an abstraction defined in a graph model. Such abstraction turns into a set of formal simulation models that are (later) translated into an executable implementation. The final simulation models are specified using Routed DEVS formalism. The methodological proposal is accomplished with the development of a Modelling and Simulation graphical software tool that uses the set of models (defined in terms of the Model-Driven Engineering approach) as the core of its operation. This graphical software tool is developed as a plug-in for Eclipse Integrated Development Environment with aims to take advantage of existent Modeling and Simulation software. Therefore, the usefulness of graphical modeling for supporting the development of the simulation models is empowered with a Model-Driven Engineering process. The main benefit obtained when the Model-Driven Engineering approach is used for modeling an abstraction of the final simulation model is a clear reduction of formalization and implementation times.Fil: Blas, María Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Gonnet, Silvio Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño; Argentin

A Discrete-Event Simulation Metamodel for Obtaining Simulation Models from Business Process Models

Organizations need to be agile and fl exible to meet the continuous changes. Business Process Management (BPM) is harnessing the continuous changes suffered by organizations in the value chain and, therefore, in their processes. Simulation models offer the ability to experience different decisions and analyze their results in systems where the cost or risk of actual experimentation are prohibitive. BPMN models are not directly executable nor is it possible to simulate their behavior in various input parameters. This paper proposes the application of model-driven engineering (MDE) to integrate the defi nition of business processes with Discrete- Event Simulation (DES) as a tool to support decision-making. We propose a platform independent DES metamodel and a set of rules, to automatically generate the simulation model from BPMN 2.0 based business process in accordance with previous metamodel.Ministerio de Economía y competitividad TIN2010- 20057- C03-02Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2010-20057-C03-03Junta de Andalucía TIC-5789Junta de Andalucía TIC-19

Monitoring of Honey Bee Colony Losses

In recent decades, independent national and international research programs have revealed possible reasons behind the death of managed honey bee colonies worldwide. Such losses are not due to a single factor, but instead are due to highly complex interactions between various internal and external influences, including pests, pathogens, honey bee stock diversity, and environmental changes. Reduced honey bee vitality and nutrition, exposure to agrochemicals, and the quality of colony management contribute to reduced colony survival in beekeeping operations. Our Special Issue (SI) on ‘’Monitoring of Honey Bee Colony Losses” aims to address the specific challenges that honey bee researchers and beekeepers face. This SI includes four reviews, with one being a meta-analysis that identifies gaps in the current and future directions for research into honey bee colonies’ mortalities. Other review articles include studies regarding the impact of numerous factors on honey bee mortality, including external abiotic factors (e.g., winter conditions and colony management) as well as biotic factors such as attacks by Vespa velutina and Varroa destructor

Business Process Simulation by Management Consultants? Introduction of a new approach for business process modeling and simulation by management consultants

Business process simulation (BPS) provides the possibility to simulate and evaluate the dynamic behavior of business processes, without directly influencing or changing the processes. The main problem is that developing a simulation model is considered to be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. For management consulting companies, BPS could be a useful addition to their current practices. As BPS requires advanced skills to develop a simulation model, a new approach is however required to enable business process simulation by management consultants. A user-centered design approach is applied to increase the likelihood that a designed solution is finally found useful and usable by the management consultants. The new designed approach for modeling and simulation of business processes, is based on Model-Driven Development (MDD) principles. Furthermore, we defined a conceptual modeling language based on the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and we adapted it to connect with the consultant's mental model. For each modeling element, a corresponding DEVS-simulation component is defined. To support the transformation from conceptual model to simulation model, a set of model-transformation rules is defined. And finally, several output statistics are specified, related to for instance resource utilization and processing times of entities in a business process. As a proof of concept, a prototype is developed based on the MDD4MS framework. It includes a visual model builder, a set of formally defined model-transformation rules, and the simulation components implemented in Java programming language. The Distributed Simulation Object Library (DSOL) was selected to provide the simulation and execution functionalities of the prototype. The prototype is finally used to model and simulate a sample-case, as well as a usability evaluation with management consultants. We conclude that the proposed design is a fruitful possibility to enable business process simulation by management consultants.SEPAMSystems EngineeringTechnology, Policy and Managemen