Robust Modelling and Simulation: Integration of SIMIO with Coloured Petri Nets

This book presents for the first time a methodology that combines the power of a modelling formalism such as colored petri nets with the flexibility of a discrete event program such as SIMIO. Industrial practitioners have seen the growth of simulation as a methodology for tacking problems in which variability is the common denominator. Practically all industrial systems, from manufacturing to aviation are considered stochastic systems. Different modelling techniques have been developed as well as mathematical techniques for formalizing the cause-effect relationships in industrial and complex systems. The methodology in this book illustrates how complexity in modelling can be tackled by the use of coloured petri nets, while at the same time the variability present in systems is integrated in a robust fashion. The book can be used as a concise guide for developing robust models, which are able to efficiently simulate the cause-effect relationships present in complex industrial systemswithout losing the simulation power of discrete-event simulation. In addition SIMIO’s capabilities allows integration of features that are becoming more and more important for the success of projects such as animation, virtual reality, and geographical information systems (GIS).

Miquel Àngel Piera received his MSc (Control Engineering) from the University of Manchester Institute of Technology in 1990 and his PhD degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) in 1994. He participates in industrial research projects in the logistics and manufacturing field and at present he is Co-director of LogiSim, a Modelling and Simulation Institution sponsored and founded by the local government of Catalonia. Recently, he has published a modelling and simulation book that is being used for teaching in many Spanish universities.

Dr. Antoni Guasch is a research engineer focusing on modelling, simulation and optimization of dynamic systems, especially continuous and discrete-event simulation of industrial processes. He received his Ph.D. from the UPC in 1987. After a postdoctoral period at the State University of California (USA), he becomes a Professor of the UPC (www.upc.edu ). He is now Professor in the department of "Ingeniería de Sistemas, Automática e Informática Industrial" in the UPC and head of Simulation and Industrial Optimization at inLab FIB (http://inlab.fib.upc.edu/). Since 1990, Prof Guasch has lead more than 40 industrial projects related with modelling, simulation and optimization of nuclear, textile, transportation, car manufacturing, water, steel, pharmaceutical and banking processes. Dr. Guasch has also been the Scientific Co-ordinator and researcher in 7 scientific projects He has participated in 4 EU projects, with the role of partner leader in two of them. Dr. Guasch currently research projected is related to the development of algorithms for the optimal management of air resources for forest fire containmentDr. Idalia Flores de la Mota received a Master with honors, being awarded the Gabino Barreda Medal for the best average of her generation, in the Faculty of Engineering of the UNAM, where she also obtained her Ph.D. in Operations Research. Dr. Flores is a referee and a member of various Academic Committees at CONACYT as well as being a referee for journals such as Journal of Applied Research and Technology, the Center of Applied Sciences and Technological Development, UNAM and the Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International.  She is a full time professor at the Postgraduate Program at UNAM and her research interests lie in simulation and optimization of production and service systems.