This module offers insight into the applications of selected methods of decision support. The foundations for applying these methods are derived from Operations Research Simulation, Social Simulation, Data Science, Automated Scheduling, and Decision Analysis. Throughout the module, you will become more competent in choosing and implementing the appropriate method(s) for the particular problem at hand.
If you are one of my COMP4038 students, please use Moodle instead of this website, as the slides here contain lots of spoilers for the in-class activities.
I teach this module together with my colleague Dario Landa-Silva. Here I will only publish my material.
List of Topics
Introduction
Lecture: Introduction to simulation and optimisation (the bigger picture) [slides] [sample models]
Workshop: Simulation study life cycle [slides]
Lab: Understanding the context [worksheet]
Lecture: Introduction to AnyLogic and Java [slides] [source code]
Workshop: Working with AnyLogic and Java [slides]
Lab: AnyLogic Tutorials (1/2) [worksheet] [laptop tutorial]
Developing Models and Algorithms
Lecture: Conceptual modelling + conceptual modelling exercise [slides]
Homework: Watch the following video >>Inaugural Lecture of Professor Stewart Robinson<< [video link]
Workshop: Data and information + representing unpredictable variability [slides]
Lab: AnyLogic Tutorial (2/2) [see last week's worksheet]
Lecture: Discrete event modelling and simulation [slides] [worksheet] [model (booking clerk v2)]
Workshop: Validation and verification within the simulation life cycle + introduction to group activity [slides]
Lab: Group activity: Initial brainstorm [group activity task sheet]
Lecture: Agent-based modelling and simulation [slides] [model (challenge solution)]
Useful resource: Transentis's Introduction to System Dynamics with iThink [video 1] [video 2] [video 3]
Workshop: AnyLogic - Beginner to Pro in under an hour ;) [slides] [draft model bundle v1]
Lab: Group activity: Presentations [see group activity task sheet]
Lecture: Constructive and Local Search Heuristics
Workshop: Combining Simulation and Optimization
Lab: Exploring Simulation Optimisation Examples
Lecture: Evolutionary Algorithms
Workshop: Evaluating Heuristic Algorithms
Lab: Experiments with Heuristics
Application
Lecture: Optimisation with ABM Simulation
Workshop: Optimisation Experiments in AnyLogic
Lab: Implementing Simulation Optimisation
Lecture: Experimentation [slides] [model (factory example)]
My HowTo Video: Running Experiments in HeuristicLab Using AnyLogic [url]
Lab: Try linking AnyLogic and HeuristicLab [instructions]; start with planning coursework 2
Decision Support in Practice
Lecture: Cost-Benefit and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis [slides]
Workshop: /
Lab: Coursework clinic [model (booking clerk v3)] (uses a source element when recycling PC agents)
Last year's exam (without details about the optimisation question) [url]
Resources
We will use AnyLogic Free PLE 8 for this module. There is a free introductory book for v7 available from the AnyLogic website (and an updated version to buy from Amazon). There is also an interesting blog with the latest news about AnyLogic
Below you find a collection of books that we would recommend for self-study. Most of the module's teaching is based on Stewart Robinson's book. Borshchev's book (although a bit outdated) is useful if you want to learn more about the technical aspects, i.e. how to implement simulation models in AnyLogic. More up-to-date information is available in the AnyLogic Help.
Simulation in General:
Borshchev (2013) The Big Book of Simulation Modeling - Multimethod Modeling with AnyLogic 6 (with a focus on model implementation in AnyLogic 6 (please note that in the lab we use AnyLogic 8); also provides an introduction to the required Java)
Kelton et al (2014) Simio and Simulation: Modelling, Analysis, Applications - 3e (with a focus on model implementation in Simio)
Discrete Event Simulation:
Robinson (2014) Simulation: The Practice of Model Development and Use - 2e
Agent-Based Simulation:
Gilbert and Troitzsch (2005) Simulation for the Social Scientist - 2e
Wilensky and Rand (2015) An Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling: Modeling Natural, Social, and Engineered Complex Systems with NetLogo
System Dynamics Simulation:
Morecroft (2007) Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics: A Feedback Systems Approach
Java Programming:
Sierra and Bates (2005) Head First Java (a bit outdated, but explains object oriented programming in Java from scratch)
Deroussi (2016) Mataheuristics for Logistics, Wiley
Talbi (2009) Metaheuristics from Design to Implementation, Wiley
Furthermore, the WSC Proceedings are also a valuable source of information, in particular the introductory tutorials are very useful [url] (you can download all papers directly from this website for free). Another good resource for scientific papers is Google Scholar [url]. You will also find more about my research in Google Scholar [url].
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