CS 1538: Introduction to Simulation

Course Description and Rational:

Complex systems, such as engineering, economic, or scientific processes, can be hard or costly to study directly or to manipulate to explore alternatives. Simulations allow us to explore and gain insights into the behavior of complex systems. While simulation is a broad term in computer science, we will focus primarily on simulating stochastic, discrete event processes. Towards the end of the semester, there may be time for examining other forms of simulations, such as Monte Carlo simulations. As an introductory course, we will study simulations from both a theoretical perspective and an applied one.

By the end of this course, you will be able to ...

• answer these questions:
  • When/How is simulation useful?
  • How to develop/run a simulation?
  • How to interpret/analyze the results?
• apply some of the underlying mathematical principles to simulation:
  • Random numbers
  • Statistical models and probability distributions
  • Queuing theory
  • Analysis/generation of input data
  • Analysis/generation of output data

Prerequisites

• at least one statistics course (e.g. STATS 1000)
• or instructor's permission

Textbook

No text is required for this class. However, you may find the following books nice to refer to:

• Ross, Sheldon. Simulation, 5th ed. Academic Press. ISBN-10: 0124158250
• Law, Averill. Simulation Modeling and Analysis, 4th ed. McGraw Hill. ISBN-10: 0073294411
• Banks et al. Discrete-Event System Simulation, 5th ed. Prentice Hall. ISBN-10: 0136062121

Grade Breakdown

Grade Scale

When a percentage falls exactly between two letter grades, the round half up method will be used for breaking this tie. For example, if a student has a final grade of 82.50%, the grade will be rounded up to 83% (B). However, if the final grade is 82.49%, then the grade will be rounded down to 82% (B-).

General Information

• Students should attend all lectures, which may include material that is not directly available from the texts or lecture notes/slides. If a student misses a lecture, he/she is still responsible for the material covered. While lecture notes will be available from the Daily Schedule, anything written on the board or programmed may not be available from anywhere other than a classmate. Additionally, participation is partially dependent on attending lecture.
• Information, including announcements, handouts, review sheets, and solutions, will be posted on the Daily Schedule. Students are expected to be aware of all information that is posted on this page.
• All material that a student turns in should also be saved in a safe place until the term has ended and he/she has received and accepted his/her final grade. Do not assume that uploading your project means you no longer need to keep a copy of it.
• It is recommended that students save their work frequently and maintain backups of their computer and, especially, any programs being written for this class. Failing to turn in an assignment on time because "my computer crashed" or "I lost my usb drive" are not valid excuses for turning an assignment in late.
• Grade Appeals: Grades can be appealed up to two weeks after they have been posted; no appeals will be considered after that time. When appealing a grade, you must identify at least one way in which you were graded incorrectly or unfairly. Please note that the entire homework/exam/etc. will be regraded upon appeal.
• If a student is having issues that can affect his or her grade, it is better to talk to the instructor sooner rather than later.

Participation

• There are many ways to earn participation points, including:
  • Ask on-topic questions during lecture
  • Answer questions during lecture
  • Visit office hours regularly
  • Complete ungraded surveys on CourseWeb
• There will be "quick quizzes" at the end of many lectures. These quick quizzes will ask basic questions from material covered during lecture that day and previous lectures. Because these quizzes focus on material from the lecture, it is not possible to make up missed quick quizzes.
• Participation grades will be posted approximately monthly.

Homework

• Homework will be listed on the daily schedule.
• Any programs that need to be written must be written in Java or another language that is approved by the grader.
• Homework is due by 11:59 at the submission site on the due date, unless otherwise stated. Homework submitted after the deadline will be graded as a late submission. Note: Submissions received at 11:59:01 pm are considered late.
• Homework will be accepted late up to 48 hours after the due date, but 15% will be deducted from the overall score. Any submission after the late deadline will not be graded, but you can still submit it for feedback.

Exams

• Exam dates will be listed on the daily schedule. Exams will be announced at least two weeks before the date.
• Both exams will be during lecture.
• Students are expected to be present for each exam. Make-up exams will only be given in the event of a properly-documented emergency, and only if the instructor is informed in advance. If you cannot contact your instructor directly, send him an email or call the CS department (412-624-8490). Failure to notify your instructor prior to missing an exam will result in a zero for the exam.

Team Project

• Mid-way through the semester, the team project will begin. Students will organize into groups and pick a problem to simulate. They will investigate the problem, collect data, propose improvements, run simulations, analyze the results, and offer conclusions.

Extra Credit

• Extra credit may be included in homework assignments, but not all homework assignments will include extra credit.
• Any other forms of extra credit will not be considered until all assignments (that are due) have been submitted. A student can gain no more than 10% of their course grade through these other forms of extra credit.
• No extra credit will be given during or after the final week of the semester.

Disability Services

If you have a disability, please have the Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) send a confirmation letter. Upon receiving the letter, we can discuss accommodations.

"The Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) provides a broad range of support services to assist students with disabilities. Services include, but are not limited to, tape-recorded textbooks, sign language interpreters, adaptive and transportation. Contact DRS at 412-648-7890 or 412-383-1355 (TTY) in 216 William Pitt Union or see www.drs.pitt.edu for more computer technology, Braille translation, and nonstandard exam arrangements, DRS can also assist students with accessibility to campus housing information." (quoted from the Undergraduate Bulletin)

Religious Observances

If a religious observance will interfere with your attendance or performance in class, please inform the instructor ahead of time so accommodations can be made. While it would be useful for any class, this is especially important for days when graded assignments are due or exams are scheduled.

Academic Integrity

Each student is expected to do his/her own work. For a first offense, a student caught collaborating/cheating in any way will receive a zero for the exam/project/lab/quiz/homework. In the event of a second offense, the student will receive an F for the course and may be subject to stronger actions.
Note: Submissions that are alike in a substantive way (not due to coincidence) will be considered cheating by ALL parties involved. Be sure to protect yourself by storing your files in private directories and retrieving printouts promptly.

"As members of the University of Pittsburgh community, Dietrich School students are expected to meet the obligation to exhibit honesty and to respect the ethical standards of the University community and of their chosen field of study in carrying out academic assignments. Dietrich School students are therefore expected to familiarize themselves with the published rules and regulations go to http://www.provost.pitt.edu/info/ai1.html" (quoted from the Undergraduate Bulletin)