Semantic validation of emergent properties in component-based simulation models

Abstract

Advances in composable modeling and simulation have facilitated the development and our understanding of more complex models. As a result, the representation, identification and validation of emergence is becoming of increasing importance because emergent properties can have a negative effect on the overall system behavior. Despite a plethora of definitions and methods, a practical approach to identify and validate emergent properties in newly composed simulation models remains a challenge. This chapter reviews current approaches and presents a new approach for identifying emergent properties in component-based systems. Using a simple example of a flock of birds model, we compare and contrast three main approaches: grammar-based, variable-based and event-based. Lastly, building on our previous work on formal semantic validation of model behavior, we present a new objective-based approach for semantic validation of emergent properties in composable simulation.