Towards successful multifunctional reuse of simulation components

The idea of reusing simulation components when developing simulations is appealing because it could save both time and money. In practice, however, it can be difficult to reuse a simulation component for other purposes than for which it was originally developed. In particular, reusing simulation components across application domains, or multifunctional reuse, can be challenging. It would be valuable if we had more insight into the conditions that determine the suitability of a simulation component for multifunctional reuse. In this context, we investigated the terms and conditions for multifunctional reuse of simulation components across different domains, in particular the reuse between the domains of training and materiel (concept) development. Our conclusions are based on a series of interviews with M&S experts and on case studies that analyzed the development of simulation tools. Our conclusions are in line with current Component Based Development and Service Oriented Architecture principle: reuse is facilitated by applying componentization and ensuring that components have well-defined interfaces. Additionally, we have defined the main subjects for guidelines for the development and application of multifunctional components. These consider constructive as well as virtual simulations and include aspects of time management, model configurability, componentization, and interoperability.