Applying methods of the M&S spectrum for complex systems engineering

Systems engineering for complex systems or system of systems cannot rely on a single method for modeling and analysis. However, established methods ranging from system dynamics (SD) to agent based simulation (ABS) can be applied to analyze specific domains. This paper introduces a spectrum of modeling & simulation (M&S) methods ranging from differential equations and highly aggregated models to high resolution models of individual behavior. Orchestration and choreography of all methods in this spectrum allow the seamless and continuous evaluation of complex systems and system of systems. A proposed classification is illustrated through two example problem domains: traffic and evacuation modeling.