Data collection with a portable microcomputer

Abstract

Advances in simulation methodology, and the computer support systems to implement these methodologies, have led to the development of integrated simulation support environments (such as TESS). These environments, or collection of software tools, seek to aid the analyst in developing models, data management and analysis, and data presentation. While an integrated simulation environment provides a more organized structure for managing and performing simulation projects, and provides a database management structure for storing, manipulating, and analyzing data, they do not address the actual process of going out and obtaining the data. As a result, many of the common problems associated with poor problem and system definition and low quality model input data, may still occur. This paper examines the concept of a support-support system; a portable microcomputer with software tools designed to support collection of the data, both subjective and objective, required in a simulation study. To demonstrate how this concept can be implemented, a BASICA program which supports model input data collection is discussed. Using graphic display to define input data requirements and single key inputs, this program should maximize the time an analyst can spend observing the system and minimize the time he/she has to spend entering data.