CSci 4210/6210
Simulation and Modeling

Textbook

Discrete-Event System Simulation: 5/e,
Banks, Carson, Nelson and Nicol, 2010

Class Time (in GSRC 208)

Day	Time	Room
Tuesday	12:30 - 1:45	Forestry Resources 306
Wednesday	12:20 - 1:10	GSRC 306
Thursday	12:30 - 1:45	Forestry Resources 306

TA

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Course Description/Objectives

In this course, we will study complex dynamic systems, examining their performance, reliability, etc. The reason for doing this is to improve such systems either in the design phase (before a costly system is built) or the operation phase (tune or upgrade). A simulation model may be used for such studies. It is an approximation of the complex system that captures its essential properties and often mimics the behavior of the actual system. Behavior is studied by carrying out multiple runs of the simulation model to produce statistical outputs of properties such as system response time or throughput. Further insight into system behavior can be gained by animating the model. The course will involve a major project to create a simulation model of a system chosen by the project group (2 students). The model will be created using Java 6 (or 7) or Scala 2.9 and parts of JSIM, a simulation system coded in Java or ScalaTion, a simulation system coded in Scala.

Course Topics

Computer Simulation
• Introduction to Modeling: Types of Models
• Hand/Spreadsheet Simulation: Spreadsheet Simulation
• Game Programming: Simulation Game
• Computer Animation
  • Graphical User Interfaces (GUI): Swing
  • Two-Dimensional Graphics: Java 2D
  • Three-Dimensional Graphics: LWJGL , JOGL
  • 3D Game Engines: jMonkey Engine (jME) , GTGE
• Simulation Engines
  • Simulation Languages: Simulation Languages
  • Multi-Threaded Programming: Threads
  • Representation of State: Dynamical System
  • Time Advance Mechanisms
  • Modeling Paradigms/World Views
    • Continuous Simulation
    • Event Oriented, e.g., Event Scheduling
    • Process Oriented, e.g., Process Interaction
    • Activity Oriented, e.g., Petri Nets: Petri Nets
    • State Oriented, e.g., Markov Process
• Stochastic Processes
  • Probability: Probability Theory
  • Statistics: Statistics
  • Markov Models: Markov Chain
  • Random Number Generators: RNG
  • Random Variate Generators: Random Variate
  • Output Analysis Simulation Output Analysis

Grading

20%	Exam I	Chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 14.2	9/15/11
20%	Exam II	Chs. 5, 6, Concurrency/Threads, Java 2D Animation, 3D Animation/Game Engines	11/1/11
25%	Final	Comprehensive (exams I and II) + Ch. 7, 8, 11	12/13/11
5%	Homework and Tool Talk	See below	.
30%	Projects	See below	.

Final Exam: Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 12:00-3:00 pm, 3-page info sheet allowed (Forestry Resources 306)

• Q1: Hand Simulation (Ch. 2)
• Q2: Event Scheduling (Ch. 3, 14.2)
• Q3: Process Interaction (Ch. 3, 14.2)
• Q4: Animation (Ch. notes)
• Q5: Probability/Queueing Models (Ch. 5, 6)
• Q6: Random Numbers/Variates (Ch. 7, 8)
• Q7: Output Analysis (Ch. 11)

Tool Talks

1.	Scala	slides	8/24
2.	Swing	slides	8/24
3.	Threads	slides	8/31
4.	Java 2D	slides	9/7
5.	LWJGL 3D Graphics	slides	10/26
6.	jME Physics Engine	slides	11/15
7.	Arena/Siman Simulation Software	slides	11/17

Projects

1.	Blackjack Card Game	Project 1
2.	Event Scheduling Simulation Engine	Project 2
3.	Peg Game (skipped)	Project 3
4.	Process Interaction Simulation Engine	Project 4
5.	Add an Animator to Project 4 (skipped)	Project 5
6.	Term Project	Project 6

Policies

• Late Policy - 10 points off per day late

• Make-Up Tests - requires (i) written pre-approval for travel/time conflicts or (ii) written explanation for illness

• The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.

• As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University's academic honesty policy, "A Culture of Honesty," and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards described in "A Culture of Honesty" found at: www.uga.edu/honesty . Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor