Objectives and Description: The course provides motivation for performing computerized simulation studies, illustrates the main concepts and methods for building simulation models, executing them and analyzing the output. This is done through application examples and hands-on exercises using open source simulation environments. The basic background notions on probability and statistics needed to perform the analysis of the simulation output are reviewed in the course.
Methods and outcomes: After the course the participants will be able to: 1) Define the purpose and possible applications of a simulation study and what is a dynamic discrete simulation model. 2) Build, execute and compare simulation models using a simulation tool. Derive model parameters from data. 3) Analyze and compare models at different abstraction levels, derive properties and understand the role of random number and random variate generation and output statistical analysis in discrete event simulation. 4) Apply the learned skills to a realistic case study. Perform what-if analysis to observe and explain how the simulation results change when considering variations of the model. 5) Finally along the course the participants will develop soft skills such as team work, communication skills (both technology mediated and in-presence) and the ability to expand their knowledge on the subject through autonomous learning.
Target audience / Participants profile:
- Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”: Undergraduate (3rd year), Master
- Universitatea Tehnică “Gheorghe Asachi” din Iaşi: Undergraduate (3rd year), Master
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord: Undergraduate (3rd year), Master
- Universidad de Zaragoza: Undergraduate (3rd or 4th year)
No of ECTS issued: 4
Language of instruction and requirements: English
Dates for on-line activity: From mid March to mid June, 2026
Dates for in-person activity: From June 29 to July 3, 2026.
Location of in-person activity: Zaragoza, Spain
- Teacher: Franceschinis, Giuliana
- Teacher: Laure, Petrucci
- Teacher: Matcovschi Matcovschi, Mihaela-Hanako
- Teacher: Teruel Doñate, Enrique