Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The topic of the course varies. The course has two alternating topics at the moment.

Topic I: On even years: Discrete Event Simulation (DES). The course gives basic skills for analysis of queuing phenomena through DES. DES models the system as a sequence of discrete events in time where system state changes. System state is not updated between the events, which allows simulation time to jump directly from event to the next event. (This is in contrast to continuous system simulation, where system state changes continuously).

Topic II: On odd years: System Dynamics (SD) simulation. The course's objective is to provide capabilities to identify, model and understand a variety of economic, organizational and socio-technical systems. After the course, students will recognize principles of systems thinking and are able to apply them to study the system of interest. Students will also be able to construct a system dynamics simulation model for problem solving.

If you have already completed the course and want to do it again, please contact studentservices@aalto.fi. In Sisu, a student can have only one valid grade from a course with the same course code.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 26.02.2024 - 11.04.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Risto Lahdelma

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The topic of the course varies. The course has two alternating topics at the moment.

    Topic I: On even years: Discrete Event Simulation (DES). Simulation of systems including discrete events and queues: random number generation, construction of a model, input models, output data analysis, model validation.

    Topic II: On odd years: System Dynamics (SD) simulation. During the course, we will discuss the analysis and control of dynamic systems, model building and validation. We will also go through the basics of Vensim-software and present some practical applications.

    It is possible to take this course more than once. If you have completed this course already and you wish to take it again, do not register for the course in Sisu. Instead, contact studentservices@aalto.fi for further instructions.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Homework and Project assignment

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Contact hours (lectures and exercises) 35h. Attendance is not compulsory.
    Project presentation (preparation and seminar) 3h
    Autonomous studies, including project 80h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Topic I: Law, A.M. ja W.D. Kelton, Simulation Modeling and analysis, McGraw-Hill, 2002.

    Topic II: Sterman J.D., Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World, McGraw-Hill.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language : English

    Course that may be completed several times

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring IV
    2023-2024 Spring IV

    Enrollment :

    Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi)