A model-driven engineering approach to simulation experiment design and execution

Abstract

There is an increasing awareness of the added value that efficient design of experiments can provide to simulation studies. However, many practitioners lack the proper training required to design, execute and analyze a well-designed simulation experiment. In this study, we present the initial stages of a model-driven engineering based tool for managing simulation experiments. Underlying our approach are an experiment ontology and a feature model that capture the statistical design of experiments expert knowledge which users might be lacking. In its current state, the tool provides support for the design and execution of simple experiments. Using a web-based interface, the user is guided through an experiment design wizard that produces an experiment model that can be exported as an XML file containing the experiment's description. This XML can be used to synthesize scripts that can be run by a simulator and shared across different platforms.