Productivity Improvements in Simulation Modeling (PRISM) Project: Concepts and Motivations

Abstract : Discrete-event simulation models have been, and continue to be, major decision support aids in logistics capability assessment. Results of a user needs survey conducted by the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory (AFHRL) indicate widespread user dissatisfaction with various aspects of many of these models. The models tend to be difficult to use, insufficiently documented, and difficult to modify, and to require inordinate amounts of data preparation. This paper provides a technical overview of the approach being taken by AFHRL to address these problems under the Productivity Improvements in Simulation Modeling (PRISM) project. The primary objective of this project is to provide a proof of concept for an Integrated Model Development Environment (IMDE). The IMDE is conceived as a software environment, resident upon a computer workstation and designed to use modular, hierarchical, object-oriented software structures. The proposed IMDE would be linked to an intelligent, object-oriented data base that can be accessed by the user to retrieve capability assessment objects such as aircraft, aircrews, maintenance equipment, and mission profiles. The development and life-cycle management of object-oriented models would be facilitated by the set of high-level tools provided by the IMDE. Keywords: Air logistics support, Artificial intelligence, Digital simulation, High-level languages, Logistics capability assessment, Software environments. Author.