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Modelling and Simulation pp 103–153Cite as

A Conceptual Modelling Framework for DEDS

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Part of the book series: Simulation Foundations, Methods and Applications ((SFMA))

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on conceptual modelling within the DEDS domain. Following a brief overview of the nature of the conceptual modelling task, a perspective of the behaviour of shoppers within a department store context is presented. Embedded in this perspective are some essential elements of an innovative conceptual modelling framework developed by the authors. The presentation of this framework [called the ABCmod conceptual modelling framework (Activity Based Conceptual modelling)] is the main topic of this chapter. The underlying conceptual modelling objective is the characterization of behaviour (namely the behaviour of the SUI) in a way that is consistent with the goal of the study. Behaviour, in turn, can be regarded as the consequence of the interactions, over time, among a collection of entities (the surrogates for the objects that populate the SUI). Two requirements therefore emerge; namely, a means for characterizing the entities and a means for characterizing the interactions. These dual requirements are handled in ABCmod via the notions of entity categories and behavioural artefacts respectively. As its name suggests the main behavioural artefact in the ABCmod framework is the activity. The activity is an encapsulation of a specific unit of behaviour that can be identified within the SUI and which has relevance to the model building task. Following the introduction of the underlying basis of the ABCmod framework, the various details of its constituents are presented. The development of an ABCmod conceptual model in terms of “model structure” and “model behaviour” is outlined. To accommodate the complexity that can unfold in the development of any conceptual model, a two level approach is adopted in the ABCmod framework. The high level initial stage is unencumbered by excessive detail and intended as a discussion vehicle among all project stakeholders while a detailed level provides the specifications required by the simulation modelling team. The essential features of both of these views are outlined. The Chapter concludes with a preview of several example projects that illustrate the ABCmod conceptual modelling approach. Details of these are provided in Annex 1.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A possible goal might be to determine how best to allocate a new part-time employee so that operational efficiency is maximized.

  2. 2.

    These world views are examined in Chap. 5.

  3. 3.

    A comprehensive presentation of the activity scanning from a programming perspective can be found in Kreutzer [6]. Examples of the utilization of this paradigm can be found in Martinez [7], Shi [15] and Gershwin [2].

  4. 4.

    Alternate numerical identifiers for the members of a category with scope = Many[N] may be preferred, e.g. the range for k could be [0, N − 1] to accommodate common programming conventions for indexing arrays.

  5. 5.

    It is of some interest to note that scheduled events provide the basis for the time management of all DEDS simulation models. This is explored in some detail in Chaps. 5, 6 and 7.

  6. 6.

    The reader should observe that, to be meaningful, a discussion of events within a DEDS modelling context cannot be exclusively concerned with conditional events, i.e. at least one scheduled event needs to be included.

  7. 7.

    Our notion of the conditional activity coincides with the perspective of an activity taken by Hills [4].

  8. 8.

    A time sequence is a sequence of increasing positive real values. These values may either be explicitly given or be given implicitly via a data procedure (see Sect. 3.2.1). Sometimes, it is convenient to regard a time sequence as a vector.

  9. 9.

    Note that it is implicitly assumed that race conditions will not occur in a properly formulated ABCmod conceptual model.

  10. 10.

    In the procedure identifiers, ‘x’ is a placeholder for either DVP or RVP, which indicates either a deterministic value procedure or a random variate procedure.

  11. 11.

    While the presentation suggests a group of male philosophers, this should not be taken literally since the group is, in fact, gender balanced.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Louis G. Birta

  2. School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Gilbert Arbez

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  1. Louis G. Birta
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  2. Gilbert Arbez
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Correspondence to Louis G. Birta .

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Birta, L.G., Arbez, G. (2019). A Conceptual Modelling Framework for DEDS. In: Modelling and Simulation. Simulation Foundations, Methods and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18869-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18869-6_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-18869-6

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