Simulation model design

This state-of-the-art review presents a structure for defining and categorizing simulation model designs. In the past, simulation researchers have created categories for discrete-event simulation: events, processes and activities. However, there are problems with this breakdown. First, the major problem is that the taxonomy based on these three sub-types deals with only discrete-event methods. Discrete-time methods, including the spatial decomposition of a physical system (cellular automata, L-systems), and continuous models are not included. Second, the terms "event", "process" and "activity" create a division among classes of simulation languages, rather than a division based on model design. The term "process", for example, is really a level of abstraction higher than "event" and is not orthogonal to "event". The structure that we present in this paper is more comprehensive and provides simulationists with a unified framework that is independent of the terms "discrete" and "continuous".