SimFaster: a modeling and simulation platform with multiple views for complex system

Purpose - Complex system modeling requires not only understanding of modeling framework but also domain knowledge of the system. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach which separates the domain knowledge from the modeling framework with different views. Design/methodology/approach - By establishing the mechanism of association and fusion among the views, the description and characterization of system from different aspect and point of view can form a complete system model. Based on the approach, a modeling and simulation (M & S) platform named SimFaster is developed. Modeling environment and simulation engine are the most important parts of the platform. The modeling environment provides multi-views and multi-layers to help the developers to modeling the structure, layers, composition, behavior, and interactions of an application system. The simulation engine provides mechanism of integration and interaction for components and objects, and provides runtime support for the concepts and terms from modeling environment. The simulation engine organizes the objects in the memory of distributed system as reflective object database system, so it is repository centered architecturally. Findings - Based on the approach of multi-views modeling, the platform is a flexible framework and supports top-down design, model reuse and interoperation, dynamic refinement of models, corporative design among different users in different stages, and the rebuilt of application rapidly. Research limitations/ implications - This paper deals with high-level models of the complex systems. Practical implications - This platform helps to design, modeling, and simulation complex system (especially for weapon combat system). It can participate into all the stages of the development of complex product/system, and can support the validation, refinement, optimization of models, and systems. Originality/value - This paper presents a multi-views modeling approach for the modeling of complex system.