Course Description

The goal of this class is to introduce students to the theory of modeling and simulation methods, and their application to strategic decision-making in complex systems. The focus of the class will be to teach students how to model systems, design simulations, and apply them to answer engineering questions effectively.

The class will cover the following topics:

• Different kinds of systems, models, and simulations (state /flow based, discrete /continuous time, causal /emergent systems)
• Fundamentals of stochastic processes: Queueing theory, Markov chains, CTMCs
• Fundamentals of dynamic systems: Linear and non-linear first order systems
• Simulations: Discrete event, flow based simulations
• Agent based modeling: Understanding concepts of evolution and emergence
• Verification and validation of models and simulations
• Analyzing system risk and uncertainty using simulations

The final part of the class will require students to model their problem of choice.