Computer Simulation

Definitions

European Definitions

DIESIS project

The DIESIS project gives the following definition:

"A computer simulation, a computer model or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system. Computer simulations have become a useful part of mathematical modelling of many natural systems in physics (computational physics), chemistry and biology, human systems in economics, psychology, and social science and in the process of engineering new technology, to gain insight into the operation of those systems, or to observe their behaviour."

Other International Definitions

NATO Definition

A simulation is the manipulation of a model in such a way that it represents the expected behavior of an individual actor or an entire system over time.

National Definitions

Czech Republic

Simulace: Použití systému zpracování dat k vyjádření vybraných vlastností chování fyzického nebo abstraktního systému.

Simulation: Use of a data processing system to extract selected properties in the behaviour of a physical or abstract system.

Discussion Topic

Banks and Gibson defined Simulation as:

The imitation of the operation of a real-world process of system over time.

Simulation involves the generation of an artificial history to draw inferences concerning the operational characteristics of the real-system that is represented. Simulation is an indispensable problem-solving methodology for the solution of many real-world problems. Simulation is used to describe and analyze the behavior of a system, ask what-if questions about the real system, and aid in the design of the real system. Both existing and conceptual systems can be modeled with simulation.