25-10-2012, 12:45 PM
Visual Unified Modeling Language for the Composition of Scenarios in Modeling and Simulation Systems
ABSTRACT
The Department of Defense uses modeling and simulation systems in many various roles, from research and training to
modeling likely outcomes of command decisions. Simulation systems have been increasing in complexity with the increased
capability of low-cost computer systems to support these DOD requirements. The demand for scenarios is also increasing, but
the complexity of the simulation systems has caused a bottleneck in scenario development due to the limited number of
individuals with knowledge of the arcane simulator languages in which these scenarios are written. This research combines
the results of previous AFIT efforts in visual modeling languages to create a language that unifies description of entities within
a scenario with its behavior using a visual tool that was developed in the course of this research. The resulting language has
a grammar and syntax that can be parsed from the visual representation of the scenario. The language is designed so that
scenarios can be described in a generic manner, not tied to a specific simulation system, allowing the future development of
modules to translate the generic scenario into simulation system specific scenarios.