Analysis, Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Graphical Design Tool to Develop Discrete Event Simulation Models Using Event Graphs and Simkit

Abstract

Discrete Event Simulation (DES) is one of the most widely used methodologies for Operations Research (OR) modeling and analysis. However, designing and implementing DES can be a time-consuming and error-prone task, This thesis designed, implemented and evaluated a tool, the Event Graph Graphical Design Tool (EGGDT), to help OR analysts in the design, implementation, and maintenance of DES reducing the development and debugging times. The Unified Modeling Language was used to document the development of the EGGDT, which was programmed in Java using J2D and Swing. Human Factors techniques were employed to help in the design process and to evaluate the final prototype of the EGGDT. During the design process, two formative experiments were performed to evaluate the Graphical User Interface design decisions. A final summative experiment was done to test if the potential users consider the tool a useful means to develop OR simulations. Participants of the experiments agreed that tools like the EGGDT are an essential instrument when developing simulations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA397405

Entities

People

  • Angel San Jose

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Debugging
  • Experimental Design
  • Graphical User Interface
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Operating Systems
  • Operations Research
  • Prototypes
  • Software Design
  • Software Development
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Task Performance And Analysis
  • User Interface
  • User Interface Engineering

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.