TY - JOUR

T1 - Test-driven simulation modelling

T2 - a case study using agent-based maritime search-operation simulation

AU - Onggo, Bhakti Satyabuhdi Stephan

AU - Karatas, Mumtaz

N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in European Journal of Operational Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in European Journal of Operational Research, 254, 2, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.03.050

PY - 2016/10/16

Y1 - 2016/10/16

N2 - Model verification and validation (V&V) is one of the most important activities in simulation modelling. Model validation is especially challenging for agent-based simulation (ABS). Techniques that can help to improve V&V in simulation modelling are needed. This paper proposes a V&V technique called Test-Driven Simulation Modelling (TDSM) which applies techniques from Test-Driven Development in software engineering to simulation modelling. The main principle in TDSM is that a unit test for a simulation model has to be specified before the simulation model is implemented. Hence, TDSM explicitly embeds V&V in simulation modelling. We use a case study in maritime search operations to demonstrate how TDSM can be used in practice. Maritime search operations (and search operations in general) are one of the classic applications of Operational Research (OR). Hence, we can use analytical models from the vast search theory literature for unit tests in TDSM. The results show that TDSM is a useful technique in the verification and validation of simulation models, especially ABS models. This paper also shows that ABS can offer an alternative modelling approach in the analysis of maritime search operations.

AB - Model verification and validation (V&V) is one of the most important activities in simulation modelling. Model validation is especially challenging for agent-based simulation (ABS). Techniques that can help to improve V&V in simulation modelling are needed. This paper proposes a V&V technique called Test-Driven Simulation Modelling (TDSM) which applies techniques from Test-Driven Development in software engineering to simulation modelling. The main principle in TDSM is that a unit test for a simulation model has to be specified before the simulation model is implemented. Hence, TDSM explicitly embeds V&V in simulation modelling. We use a case study in maritime search operations to demonstrate how TDSM can be used in practice. Maritime search operations (and search operations in general) are one of the classic applications of Operational Research (OR). Hence, we can use analytical models from the vast search theory literature for unit tests in TDSM. The results show that TDSM is a useful technique in the verification and validation of simulation models, especially ABS models. This paper also shows that ABS can offer an alternative modelling approach in the analysis of maritime search operations.

KW - Agent-Based Simulation

KW - Model validation

KW - Maritime search operations

KW - Repast

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.03.050

DO - 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.03.050

M3 - Journal article

VL - 254

SP - 517

EP - 531

JO - European Journal of Operational Research

JF - European Journal of Operational Research

SN - 0377-2217

IS - 2

ER -