A modelling tool for hierarchical stochastic activity networks

Abstract

Hierarchical stochastic activity networks (HSANs) are a newly introduced extension of stochastic activity networks (SANs). HSAN models encapsulate hierarchies and a key benefit of these models is the possibility of automatic employment of composition techniques by their modelling tools. For modelling and evaluation with HSANs, we have developed a software tool called SANBuilder. This tool has an integrated development environment (IDE) for construction, animation, simulation and analytic solution of SAN-based models. We have implemented in this tool some state-of-the-art methods for the simulation and analytic solution of SAN and HSAN models. In addition to an introduction to HSANs, this paper will describe the features, capabilities, organization, solution methods, implementation and a performance evaluation of the SANBuilder modelling tool.