A methodology for fabrication of intelligent discrete-event simulation models

In this article a meta-specification for the software requirements and design of intelligent discrete next-event simulation models has been presented. The specification is consistent with established practices for software development as presented in the software engineering literature. The specification has been adapted to take into consideration the specialized needs of object-oriented programming resulting in the actor-centered taxonomy. The heart of the meta-specification is the methodology for requirements specification and design specification of the model. The software products developed by use of the methodology proposed herein are at the leading edge of technology in two very synergistic disciplines - expert systems and simulation. By incorporating simulation concepts into expert systems a deeper reasoning capability is obtained - one that is able to emulate the dynamics or behavior of the object system or process over time. By including expert systems concepts into simulation, the capability to emulate the reasoning functions of decision-makers involved with (and subsumed by) the object system is attained. In either case the robustness of the technology is greatly enhanced.