41: Input Modeling

"Every model is an approximation. It is the data that is real." - Unknown.

"The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." - George Bernard Shaw

"I think chance is a more fundamental conception that causality; for whether in a concrete case, a cause-effect relation holds or not can only be judged by applying the laws of chance to the observation" – Max Born.

Lecture outline: How can the input to simulation models be modeled?


1) Collecting an input model

Collecting and representing data.

Evaluating time-dependence.

2) Testing an input model.

Heuristic graphics methods.

Statistical methods: Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test

Primary reference for this lecture:

“Discrete-event simulation – a first course”, by Leemis and Park; Chapter 9: “Input Modeling”.

“The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis: Techniques for Experimental Design, Measurement, Simulation, and Modeling” by Raj Jain; Chapter 25: “Analysis of Simulation Results”.

Secondary references for this lecture:

1. “Network Modeling and Simulation, A Practical Approach” by Mohsen Guizani et al.; Chapter 10, “Input Modeling and Output Analysis”.

2. "Handbook of Simulation", edited by J Banks, Part 2: Chapter 3, Input Data Analysis.

3. “Discrete-event simulation – a first course”, by Leemis and Park; Chapter 8: “Output Analysis”.

4. “Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation of Computer and Telecommunication System”, by Obaidat and Boudriga; Chapter 11: “Analysis of Simulation Results”.

5. "Handbook of Simulation", edited by J Banks, Part 2: Chapter 7, Simulation Output Analysis