Reusable Simulation Models: An MDE-approach to Spatio- temporal Modeling with Cellular Automata

INTRODUCTION Numerous modeling tools, frameworks, and environments support domain experts with the implementation of spatiotemporal simulation models. The implemented models are usually bound to specific frameworks, because specific modeling languages, simulation engines, or processing platforms have to be used. This reduces the degree of model reuse and integration, particularly in a multi-disciplinary context. Our approach addresses two issues: model implementation and model reuse. This approach is conceptually based on the suggestion of Evert et al., (2005) to separate the modeling level, on which simulation models are described by modelers, and the implementation level, on which models are linked and executed. The approach is realized using Model-driven Engineering (MDE) and is presented for modeling cellular automata (CA).