Improvement of Simulation Conceptual Model
Wang Xuehui
School of Mechatronics
Engineering and Automation
National University of Defense
Technology
Changsha, P.R. China 410073
Email: yzmailbox2003@163.com
Zhang Lei
Department of Computer Science
National University of Defense
Technology
Changsha, P.R. China 410073
Email:zlmailbox2000@163.com
Huang Kedi
School of Mechatronics
Engineering and Automation
National University of Defense
Technology
Changsha, P.R. China 410073
ABSTRACT
The simulation conceptual model (SCM) describes
how the developer expects to transform objectives and
requirements into specifications which contain
adequate detail for the simulation to be successfully
designed and satisfactorily implemented. Many
potential problems and weakness in simulation can be
observably avoided by fine SCM. Therefore, providing
an fine SCM is not only a primary mechanism for
clear and comprehensive communication among
simulation developer, implementation personnel and
users, but also the key of high-powered
interoperability, reuse, credibility and high fidelity in
heterogeneous networked simulations. We recognize
that the SCM should be derived early in the
development process. However, in fact, this activity
is often missed or disregarded.
This paper starts with a description of what is
distributed interactive simulation and how it develop
today, then we introduce the high level architecture
(HLA) and SCM, involved in their components, and
an overview of the problem and its reasons about SCM
development. Following we provides an emphatic
discussion to traditionally recognized approach to
SCM. Finally, we explored some emerging technology
of improvement in the SCM. Such as base object
model (BOM), global information grid (GIG).
Keywords: high level architecture (HLA), simulation
conceptual model (SCM), base object model
(BOM), global information grid (GIG)
1. INTRODUCTION
The SCM is used to capture the intention of user and
serves as a frame of reference traced back to initial
user requirements.[1] And that every simulation is
developed for a given purpose. Normally a simulation
purpose is spelled out in simulation objectives and
requirements. It is much more difficult to determine if
a simulation is appropriate for reuse and for use in
combination with other simulations in a distributed
simulation without an explicit conceptual model.
Unfortunately, most of conceptual model may be
sometimes incomplete, unclear, inconsistent, and
sometimes wrong. What’s worse, faulty conceptual
model cause much of software fatal defects. An
excellent SCM minimizes this kind of problem. The
result from a fine SCM is that product performs better
with fewer defects and the fund costs less.
Standards of SCM for describing systems that
exchange information and for interoperability among
simulations are enabling enhanced capabilities; but,
similar standards of SCM do not exist for simulation
decomposition into entities and processes, for
representation abstraction of the subject simulated, and
for how to describe and document the SCM. However
the intent of the High Level Architecture (HLA) is to
promote interoperation between inhomogeneous
simulations, at the same time, to provide a structure
that supports reuse of different simulations, ultimately
reducing the cost and time required to create a
synthetic simulation environment for an especial
purpose.
2. HLA-BASED SIMULATION
Simulation is a powerful tool for the analysis of new
system designs, retrofits to existing systems and
proposed changes to operating rules. There are many
types and kinds of simulation. In this paper we limit
ourselves to HLA-based distributed interactive
simulation.[2]
2.1 Distributed Interactive Simulation and High
Level Architecture
Here, the term distributed simulation refers to
distributing the execution of a single “run” of a
simulation program across multiple processors.
Increasingly important motivation for distributed
simulation concerns the desire to integrate several
different simulators into a single simulation
environment.
As we known, distributed interactive simulation,
particularly in operating over the Internet have created
an enormous change for the electronic epoch. Besides
it is HLA standard of distributed interactive simulation
that connects different sub-models and sub-systems
with a common interface. The HLA developed by the
Department of Defense in the United States is first
described to provide a concrete example of a
contemporary approach to integrate, or federate,
separate, autonomous simulators into a single,

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