Using computer graphics to interpret simulation output

Abstract

The analysis, interpretation, and formatting of re sults are common problems in computer simulations. Graphics programs are a useful tool in analyzing outputs. Among the most powerful programs are SYMVU (from Harvard University's Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis) and SURFACE II (from the Kansas Geological Survey). We describe these programs briefly and show their use in two typical simulation applications. First we use SYMVU to plot cost surfaces from a production model. Next we use SURFACE II to show the distribution of points from a model of a random search. The graphical out put is much easier to analyze and interpret than is the more common tabular output.

Keywords

computer graphics random-search modeling

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hoffman, D.B.

Computer Simulation of a Fixed Area Random Search Model

Proceedings 1979 Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Decision Sciences

New Orleans November 19-21, 1979

Nie, N.H. et al. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences McGraw-Hill

New York

1975

Reitman, J. Computer. Simulation Application of Discrete-Event Simulation for Synthesis and Analysis of Complex Systems Wiley- Interscience

New York

1971

Schriber, T.J. Three Computer Models for Probability Applications In Thomas J. Scriber , editor, FORTRAN Applications in Business Administration (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1971), vol. 2, pp. 349-422

10.

11.

Takeuchi, H. Schmidt, A.H.

New Promise of Computer Graphics

Harvard Business Review vol. 58 no. 1 January-February 1980 pp. 122-131