Fundamentals of system simulation

Simulation is a powerful tool that can be used to mimic the behavior of almost any system. This chapter provides an overview of the basics of applied system simulation. In order for the simulation results to be useful for decision making, the model must be verified and validated. An understanding of random number generation and random variate generation is essential before embarking on any simulation project. The programming language or software package that will be used to translate the model into a computerized form must be chosen carefully based on the objectives and requirements of the simulation study. Furthermore, simulation experiments must be conducted in order to understand the behavior of the system under study.