Formalizing geographical models using specification and description language: The wildfire example

Abstract

In this paper we explore how we can use Specification and Description Language, to represent simulation models that make an intensive use of geographical information, like environmental simulation models. The purpose is to perform a complete unambiguous, graphical and formal representation of a wildfire simulation model. Specification and Description Language is a modern object oriented language that allows the definition of distributed systems. It has focused on the modeling of reactive, state/event driven systems, and has been standardized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the Z.100. Thanks to the graphical representation of the simulation model, the interaction between the experts that usually come from different areas is simplified. Also, due to the unambiguous and modular nature of the language, all the details of the model can be validated by personnel that do not necessarily are used with programming languages or simulation infrastructures.