An activity oriented visual modelling language with automatic translation to different paradigms

Abstract

The traditional approach for discrete event simulation modelling includes visual support diagrams for modeller-client communication purposes (model interpretation and validation) and also to act as the basis for simulation lan-guage program construction. Although modern simulation packages use powerful graphical interfaces for programming and animation pur-poses, these packages still require enormous simulation expertise to construct a simulation program. This work suggests the use of the Activity Cycle Diagrams-ACD (activity based philosophy) concepts for modeller-client communication, but also to act as an automatic generator of simulation programs under different paradigms - event scheduling (Basic Simulation Facility – Simulation Li-brary) and Process Flow (ARENA – Simulation Envi-ronment) philosophies, thus eliminating any program-ming effort and expertise.