Cellular Automata: A Novel Visual Modeling Approach

Many important scientific and engineering problems are studied using Cellular Automata (CA) models. Mathematical formulae with component-based modeling concepts are used to specify CA models. Computer simulation tools support viewing the dynamics of CA simulation models. Existing approaches with their tools are restrictive from visual model development perspective since models must be specified in mathematical or programming languages or exist as pre-built models. In this paper, the novel concept of spatial-specialization CA modeling is developed and introduced into CoSMoS (Component-based System Modeler and Simulator), a logical, visual, and persistence modeling and simulation framework. Modelers can visually create and manipulate structures of a family of hierarchical component-based CA models. The tool supports semi-automatic translation of component-based CA models to DEVSJAVA simulation code. An illustrative landscape erosion model is developed to highlight the basic capabilities of CA modeling in CoSMoS.