Simulation Languages

Abstract

AbstractA computer simulation model is an abstract entity that describes the dynamics behavior of a target system. It can be designed according to different modeling methodologies and implemented in a computer by means of a programming language. Many specific programming languages have been developed to facilitate this implementation. These are formally designated as modeling languages. The execution of a computer model is referred to as the simulation or experimental phase. Some modern software simulation environments provide extensions to modeling languages that simplify common tasks such as parameter identification, sensitivity analysis, validation, and even the connection to external data sources and other software programs. Accordingly, specific languages used to describe, implement, and even design the subsequent experiments are called modeling and simulation languages or, simply, simulation languages. We use both modeling language and simulation language as synonymous terms throughout the text despite the fact that they are not formally the same.The high number of software environments for modeling and simulation and their dependence on the domain of the system to be modeled makes unsuccessful the review of the state of the art in this field by means of an approach based on the description of their major technical features. This work follows a more fruitful approach, which is the description of the major methodologies and technologies that underlie the simulation languages and software environments. With this objective, the chapter begins with a brief review of the most important milestones in modeling and simulation methodologies, which is followed by a formal description of the current ones. That section is followed by another one devoted to several important mathematical subjects related to language causality, which is the base of some of the major cutting edge advances in modeling languages. Several representative languages and software environments founded on the different methodologies analyzed are cited afterwards. The chapter ends with a section dedicated to review biomedical engineering applications of computer simulation models and current trends in the modeling and simulation field.