Simulation model design

Presents a structure for defining and categorizing simulation model designs. In the past, simulation researchers have created categories for discrete event simulation: event, process and activity; however, there are problems with this breakdown. First, the major problem is that the taxonomy based on these three sub-types deals with only discrete event methods. Discrete time methods including a spatial decomposition of a physical system (cellular automata, L-Systems) or a continuous model are not included. Second, the terms "event", "process" and "activity" create a division among classes of simulation languages, rather than a division based on model design. The term "process", for example, is really a level of abstraction higher than "event" and is not orthogonal to "event." The structure that we present in this talk is more comprehensive and provides simulationists with a unified framework that is independent of the terms discrete and continuous.