Model Driven Development of Simulation Models: Defining and Transforming Conceptual Models into Simulation Models by Using Metamodels and Model Transformations

Modeling and simulation (M&S) is an effective method for analyzing and designing systems and it is of interest to scientists and engineers from all disciplines. This thesis proposes the application of a model driven software development approach throughout the whole set of M&S activities and it proposes a formal model driven development framework for modeling and simulation, which is called MDD4MS. The MDD4MS framework presents an integrated approach to bridge the gaps between different steps of a simulation study by using metamodeling and model transformations. The practical examples with the MDD4MS framework showed that the framework is applicable and useful in the business process modeling and simulation domain. This thesis mainly addresses the conceptual modeling and the simulation model development stages in the M&S lifecycle and the proposed framework can be incorporated into existing simulation methodologies for increasing the productivity, maintainability and quality of M&S projects