--- title: Simulation & Modeling description: Simulation and modeling involves creating digital representations of physical systems to analyze their behavior. Learners will understand how to build computer models, run experiments, and analyze data to predict system performance and optimize industrial processes. category: engineering subcategory: industrial-engineering difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/simulation-modeling --- # Simulation & Modeling Simulation and modeling involves creating digital representations of physical systems to analyze their behavior. Learners will understand how to build computer models, run experiments, and analyze data to predict system performance and optimize industrial processes. ## Available Resources 2 Books • 2 Courses • 2 Websites • 1 Papers ## Courses ### 1. Introduction to Modeling and Simulation (MIT 3.021J) **Author:** Markus Buehler, Jeffrey Grossman Introduces continuum methods, atomistic and molecular simulation, and quantum mechanical modeling applied to engineering and materials problems, using web-based simulation tools rather than heavy programming. Includes 11 lecture videos, lecture slides and problem sets for hands-on practice with each method. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/3-021j-introduction-to-modeling-and-simulation-spring-2012/ **Tags:** computational-modeling, continuum-mechanics, molecular-dynamics, atomistic-simulation, quantum-mechanics ### 2. ISyE 6644 Simulation - Course Materials **Author:** David Goldsman Complete materials for Georgia Tech's graduate simulation course: ten lecture modules spanning hand simulation, general principles, uniform random number generation, random variate generation, input analysis, output analysis and comparing systems, plus homework, exams and worked solutions. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~sman/courses/6644/ **Tags:** simulation, discrete-event-simulation, course-materials, operations-research ## Books ### 1. Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World **Author:** John D. Sterman Thousand-page treatment of system dynamics modeling: causal loop and stock-and-flow diagramming, feedback structure, material and information delays, nonlinear decision rules, model testing and validation, and worked cases on supply chain oscillation, product diffusion and organizational policy failure. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/007238915X?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** system-dynamics, systems-thinking, feedback-loops, modeling ### 2. Simulation Modeling and Analysis (5th Edition) **Author:** Averill M. Law Reference treatment of the entire simulation study lifecycle: modeling methodology, probability review, fitting input distributions to data, random number and variate generation, verification and validation, output analysis, comparing alternative system configurations, variance reduction, and simulation-based optimization. **Difficulty:** Advanced | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0073401323?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** discrete-event-simulation, simulation, statistics, operations-research ## Papers ### 1. Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings Archive Free full-text archive of Winter Simulation Conference proceedings from 1968 to 2025, hosted by the INFORMS Simulation Society. Contains the annual introductory and advanced tutorial tracks alongside peer-reviewed methodology and application papers, searchable across the full corpus. **Difficulty:** Advanced | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://informs-sim.org/ **Tags:** simulation, conference-proceedings, operations-research, discrete-event-simulation ## Websites ### 1. Mesa: Agent-Based Modeling in Python Documentation for Mesa, an Apache-licensed Python framework for agent-based modeling. Covers model and agent classes, spatial grids and networks, agent scheduling, data collection, batch parameter sweeps and browser-based visualization, with a step-by-step tutorial building a wealth-distribution model. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://mesa.readthedocs.io/stable/ **Tags:** agent-based-modeling, python, simulation, documentation ### 2. SimPy Documentation Official documentation for SimPy, a process-based discrete-event simulation framework built on Python generator functions. Contains a tutorial, topical guides on events, processes, shared resources and preemption, runnable examples including machine shops and car washes, and a full API reference. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://simpy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ **Tags:** discrete-event-simulation, python, documentation, simulation --- *This content is part of Dantes.io - Your Treasure Map to Knowledge* *Curated by humans at Dantes.io. Personal study use welcome; republishing this curation requires permission (team@dantes.io).* View this page online: https://dantes.io/subject/simulation-modeling