Pau Fonseca i Casas

Formal simulation model to optimize building sustainability

In this work, we present a simulation model that makes it possible to find optimal values for various building parameters and the associated impacts that reduce the energy demand or consumption of the building. In the study, we consider several situations with different levels of thermal insulation. To define and to integrate the different models, a formal language (Specification and Description Language, SDL) is used. The main reason for using this formal language is that it makes it possible to define simulation models from graphical diagrams in an unambiguous and standard way. This simplifies the multidisciplinary interaction between team members. Additionally, the fact that SDL is an ISO standard simplifies its implementation because several tools understand this language. This simplification of the model makes it possible to increase the model credibility and simplify the validation and verification processes. In the present project, the simulation tools used were SDLPS (to rule the main simulation process) and Energy+ (as a calculus engine for energy demand). The interactions between all these tools are detailed and specified in the model, allowing a deeper comprehension of the process that define the life of a building from the point of view of its sustainability.

Formal Languages for Computer Simulation: Transdisciplinary Models and Applications

In this chapter, the authors present a formal model of the Anesthesia Unit and Surgical Wards (UAPQ) of a Chilean hospital. The objective was to document and to understand its operation, to assist hospital management and to facilitate its simula - tion. The model was built with Specification and Description Language (SDL). This methodology was used because it allows the design of a model that represents the system in a graphical, modular, and standard way. Our design contains the follow - ing agents: the system, 11 blocks, and 52 processes. The blocks and the processes describe the clinical and administrative activities. The environment of the UAPQ model contains 3 components: clinical services, emergency units, and support units.Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Models and simulations are an important first step in developing computer applications to solve real-world problems. However, in order to be truly effective, computer programmers must use formal modeling languages to evaluate these simulations. Formal Languages for Computer Simulation: Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Petri nets are used by our students as a formal modeling technique before building a working simulation model in Arena or Simio. The Petri net model enables the simulation analyst to build a complete, unambiguous, and readable model of the target process before coding it in the target simulation tool. One of the aims of this chapter is to emphasize the need for formal specification of the simulation model before it is coded in the chosen target simulation environment. Formal specification of the model is of great help throughout the simulation project life cycle, especially in the coding and verification phase

Definition of Virtual Reality simulation models using Specification and Description Language Diagrams

A full representation of a simulation model encompasses the behavior of the elements that define the model, the definition of the probability distributions that define the delays of the events that control the model, the experimental framework needed for execution, and the graphical representation of certain model elements. This paper aims to use specification and description language to achieve a full model representation by adding two extensions to the language, which allows for a complete and unambiguous definition of a discrete simulation model that is similar to a common discrete operations research simulation tool.

SDL - The IoT Language

Interconnected smart devices constitute a large and rapidly growing element of the contemporary Internet. A smart thing can be as simple as a web-enabled device that collects and transmits sensor data to a repository for analysis, or as complex as a web-enabled system to monitor and manage a smart home. Smart things present marvellous opportunities, but when they participate in complex systems, they challenge our ability to manage risk and ensure reliability. SDL, the ITU Standard Specification and Description Language, provides many advantages for modelling and simulating communicating agents --- such as smart things --- before they are deployed. The potential for SDL to enhance reliability and safety is explored with respect to existing smart things below. But SDL must advance if it is to become the language of choice for developing the next generation of smart things. In particular, it must target emerging IoT platforms, it must support simulation of interactions between pre-existing smart things and new smart things, and it must facilitate deployment of large numbers of similar things. Moreover, awareness of the potential benefits of SDL must be raised if those benefits are to be realized in the current and future Internet of Things.

Transforming classic Discrete Event System Specification models to Specification and Description Language

Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) is one of the main widely used formal languages to represent simulation models, while Specification and Description Language (SDL) is a graphical ITU-T standard language, commonly used in telecommunication and engineering areas. In this paper, we present an algorithm, and a simulation infrastructure that implements this algorithm, to transform a simulation model represented using the DEVS formalism to the SDL standard language. The algorithm can be viewed as a mechanism to represent graphically DEVS models. In addition, because of the transformation, one can use SDL tools in order to implement DEVS models. To implement the algorithm, we propose an Extensible Markup Language representation for the DEVS and SDL models. For practical application of the algorithm, it is implemented in a simulation infrastructure named the Specification and Description Language Parallel Simulator that allows defining the models with both formalisms.Discrete Event System Specification DEVS is one of the main widely used formal languages to represent simulation models, while Specification and Description Language SDL is a graphical ITU-T standard language, commonly used in telecommunication and engineering areas. In this paper, we present an algorithm, and a simulation infrastructure that implements this algorithm, to transform a simulation model represented using the DEVS formalism to the SDL standard language. The algorithm can be viewed as a mechanism to represent graphically DEVS models. In addition, because of the transformation, one can use SDL tools in order to implement DEVS models. To implement the algorithm, we propose an Extensible Markup Language representation for the DEVS and SDL models. For practical application of the algorithm, it is implemented in a simulation infrastructure named the Specification and Description Language Parallel Simulator that allows defining the models with both formalisms.

Factory Railway System

In this study, a coloured Petri net conceptual model and an Arena© simulation model were developed for analysing the railway flow of hot steel coils in a steel factory. The simulation goal was to analyse a number of flow and storage management policies in order to identify which scenario reduces the total number of mobile railway resources needed for the internal transportation of the coils. This study was part of a larger study whose main objective was to redesign a factory railway system and a harbour steel terminal, in order to cope with a considerable increase in steel production.

Optimal Buildings’ Energy Consumption Calculus through a Distributed Experiment Execution

The calculus of building energy consumption is a demanding task because multiple factors must be considered during experimentation. Additionally, the definition of the model and the experiments is complex because the problem is multidisciplinary. When we face complex models and experiments that require a considerable amount of computational resources, the application of solutions is imperative to reduce the amount of time needed to define the model and the experiments and to obtain the answers. In this paper, we first address the definition and the implementation of an environmental model that describes the behavior of a building from a sustainability point of view and enables the use of several simulations and calculus engines in a cosimulation scenario. Second, we define a distributed experimental framework that enables us to obtain results in an accurate amount of time. This methodology has been applied to the energy consumption calculation, but it can also be applied to other modeling problems that usually require a considerable amount of resources by reducing the amount of time needed to perform modeling, implementation, verification, and experimentation.

Teaching system modelling and simulation through petri nets and arena

This paper describes our experience teaching discrete-event simulation to several Engineering branches and Computer Science students. In our courses we emphasize the importance of conceptual modelling rather than the simulation tools used to build a model. We think that in discrete-event simulation university courses it is more important to provide knowledge to students to develop and analyze conceptual models than focusing in a specific simulation tool that will be industry dependent. Focusing in conceptual modelling with the support of a well-known simulation software provide the student with skills to create a model and then translate it to any simulator. Our courses use the Petri Net (PN) methodology by incrementing the complexity of models and PN using: Place-Transition PN, Timed PN and Colored Timed PN. A PN simulator is used to analyze the conceptual model and different rules and procedures are provided to match PN conceptual model to Arena simulation software.

Simulation analysis of a dynamic ridesharing model

A dynamic ridesharing service is a system that enables drivers and riders to arrange one-time shared rides, with sufficient convenience and flexibility to be used on a daily basis. The quality of a dynamic ridesharing service is critical for commuters who need to reach their end destination on time every day. To ensure satisfactory quality, the waiting times in a ridesharing service must be low. This paper describes a dynamic ridesharing model proposal for commuters living in a small community in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The proposal solves transport problems between the community and a communication hub served by trains and buses. A survey was sent to community residents to find out whether they would be interested in the idea and willing to participate in a pilot test. A simulation model was built to determine to most suitable type of dynamic ridesharing model given the limited numbers of responses received and the heterogeneous mobility patterns of drivers and riders in the community. Reasonable good results are obtained for the morning commute but improvements are needed for the return commute in the afternoon. Further work will be required to increase the number of drivers interested in the ridesharing service.

FireFight: A Decision Support System for Forest Fire Containment

The FireFight project is being developed in collaboration with the GRAF wildland firefighting department (Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain). The main objective is the development of a web-accessible decision support system based on an integrated simulation and optimization framework for optimal wildfire containment. FireFight uses the tooPath (www.toopath.com) web server infrastructure to acquire the broadcasted real-time GPS position of approximately 1,650 land and aerial firefighting resources deployed across the territory. The short-term goal of the project is to help managers in making decisions about the number of extinguishing teams that should be deployed, the design of the water supply chain to bring water and other supplies to the firefighting teams, and the design of the change-of-shift transportation problem.