Tools for Graphical Specification and Visualization of DEVS Models

Abstract

We introduce advanced graphical modeling and visualization facilities for Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) modeling and simulation (M&S) in the CD++ environment. The objective is to provide general users with a variety of easy-to-use environments to facilitate the model analysis process and thereby promoting the adoption of M&S by a wider community of practitioners and researchers. CD++Modeler allows users without much experience in software development to construct rather complex DEVS models and to analyze simulation data using 2D graphics. We also introduce a graphical platform called MAPS designed specifically for urban traffic systems, and other advanced 3D animation tools (CD++/VRML, CD++/Maya, CD++DEVSView, and CD++/Blender) based on both commercial and open-source software packages. We elaborate on the design of these toolkits and demonstrate their capabilities as well as relative merits and limitations with realistic applications. Following a highly modular approach, the resulting architecture can be easily extended to incorporate other modeling and visualization techniques in future development. We show that these facilities can reduce the model development cost significantly, lower the learning curve for general users, and improve the comprehension of continuously evolving models, making them suitable for efficient decision making.