Explaining simulation models

Explanations are provided by expert systems to reassure their users of the validity of conclusions and of the relevance of queries. This paper, which addresses explanation in the context of simulation models, describes an expert system that is entirely devoted to explanation. The purpose of the system is to explain the results, i.e. the quantitative behaviour, of simulation models. In doing so, it makes use of information incorporated as an essential part of the simulation model that it is explaining as well as other information included solely for its explanatory use. What the system attempts to do is to provide the type of help a user of a simulation model might hope to receive from the designer and implementor of the model. A wide range of support is provided covering such matters as details of initial values of variables, implementation details, information about the structure of the model and help with interpreting results