SUBMISSION FOR SPECIAL ISSUE ON COMPUTER SIMULATION for IIE Transactions on IE Research A Taxonomy for Simulation Modeling Based on Programming Language Principles

We present a new modeling taxonomy for computer simulation. The importance of this work centers on a cohesive approach to modeling that attempts to unify heretofore disparate modeling techniques. For example, while there exists a taxonomy for discrete event simulation, this taxonomy does not incorporate models whose execution is via continuous time increment. The modeling taxonomy has a similar structure to computer language categories: declarative, functional and constraint. The multimodeling model type permits the creation of a multi-level heterogeneous model that can integrate diierent model types, rather than displacing them in favor of a singular modeling method. Instead of advocating the removal of existing modeling techniques, our focus has been on organizing modeling techniques from diierent disciplines to yield uniication. Although many diverse areas employ simulation models, no agreed-upon taxonomy has been developed to categorize and structure simulation models for all science and engineering disciplines. The discipline of simulation is often splintered due to this lack of structure, with ad hoc model classes such as \discrete event," \continuous" and \combined." These classes most often reeect the method of execution used on a model rather than the design structure of the model. We present a uniform model design taxonomy whose categories are inspired from categories in programming language principles within the eld of computer science. The taxonomy includes a set of primitive model types (conceptual, declarative, functional, constraint, spatial) and a way of integrating primitive model types together (multimodeling). These model types are discussed using a single application: a robot server for an assembly line. We have found this taxonomy enables simulationists to more easily deene and categorize their models as well as to understand how model types from seemingly disparate application areas are interrelated.