We are all faced up to a flowering of concepts and methods in the area of software verification and validation, due to significant advances in the domain. This paper considers the main terms and expressions currently in use on the subjects of model, specification, program, system, proof, checking, testing. Some analysis of the use and combination of these terms is sketched, pointing out some co...

The two main approaches to the formal verification of reactive systems are based, respectively, on model checking (algorithmic verification) and theorem proving (deductive verification). These two approaches have complementary strengths and weaknesses, and their combination promises to enhance the capabilities of each. This paper surveys a number of methods for doing so. As is often the case, t...

This paper addresses the methodological problems of empirical validation in agentbased (AB) economics models and how these are currently being tackled. We first identify a set of issues that are common to all modellers engaged in empirical validation. We then propose a novel taxonomy, which captures the relevant dimensions along which AB economics models differ. We argue that these dimensions a...

cross-national data sets on democracy. Whereas the main body of this article is organized around the four traditions, this appendix is structured around the resulting insights into the six data sets that have been examined. A substantial literature has assessed democracy measures from diverse perspectives (Munck & Verkuilen, 2002; Munck, 2009), and the discussion below considers only issues of ...

−− It’s a fact that functional verification (FV) is paramount within the hardware’s design cycle. With so many new techniques available today to help with FV, which techniques should we really use? The answer is not straightforward and is often confusing and costly. The tools and techniques to be used in a project have to be decided upon early in the design cycle to get the best value for these...

As modeling techniques become increasingly popular and effective means for simulating real-world phenomena, it becomes increasingly important to enhance or verify our confidence in them. Verification and validation techniques are neither as widely used nor as formalized as one would expect when applied to simulation models. In this paper, we present our methods and results through two very diff...

Safety validation of changes to an individual organization’s local ATM system has become common practice in Europe. However, the SESAR program is planning changes in air traffic operations in Europe that go much further than changes to a local ATM system. This paper identifies the issues on which safety validation approaches need extensions, in order to move from safety validation of changes to...

in this tutorial paper we give a a general introduction to verification and validation of simulation models, define the various validation techniques, and present a a recommended model validation procedure.

The current version of QUEST covers SDL'88 and part of SDL'92. Some new features of SDL'92 like priority input, value returning procedures, spontaneous transitions and different continuous signals with identical priority are supported by QUEST. In the future QUEST will provide improved front-and back ends. Furthermore we are doing research in the field of timed validation and verification that ...