Simulation Validation

Helps you ensure that your simulations are appropriate representations of real-world systems. The book concentrates on the differentiation between the assessment of a simulation tool and the verification and validation of general software products. It is a systematic, procedural, practical guide that you can use to enhance the credibility of your simulation models. In addition, it is a valuable reference book and a road map for software developers and quality assurance experts, or as a text for simulation methodology and software engineering courses. This book details useful assessment procedures and phases, discusses ways to tailor the methodology for specific situations and objectives, and provides numerous assessment aids. The reader can use these aids to support ongoing assessments over the entire life cycle of the model.

Preface. Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Foundations. Practical issues. Approach. Simulation model characteristics. Structure for simulation evaluation. Chapter 3: Assessment Activities. Conceptual model validation. Software verification. Operational validation. Data validation. Internal security verification. Review of the five processes. Chapter 4: A Guide to Formal Assessment. Formal assessment. Preparation phase activities. Planning phase activities. Application phase activities. Evaluation phase activities. Reporting activities. Chapter 5: A Guide to Limited and Maintenance Assessments. Limited assessment. Preparation phase activities. Planning phase activities. Application phase activities. Evaluation phase activities. Reporting activities. Chapter 6: Man-in-the-Loop Models. Man-in-the-loop models. Technical areas for formal assessment of MIL models. Technical areas for limited/maintenance assessment of MIL models. Assessment procedures for MIL models. Chapter 7: Hardware-in-the-Loop Models. Hardware-in-the-loop models. Technical areas for formal assessment of HWIL models. Technical areas for limited/maintenance assessment of HWIL models. Assessment procedures for HWIL models. Chapter 8: Assessment Aids. Simulation characterization. Assessment schedule. Formal assessment question list. Aids for planning and application phases. Formats for reports. Appendix A: Glossary and Acronyms. Appendix B: Data-descriptions. References. About the authors. Road maps.