Integration Study of Prospective Hazards
Models for the Enhancement of a Virtual Range Simulation
Model
Serge N. Sala-Diakanda, Luis Rabelo, Sergio A. Rosales, Luis
F. Robledo, and Jose A. Sepúlveda (University of Central Florida) and Jeppie
Compton (NASA Kennedy Space Center)
Abstract:
This paper describes our progresses toward enhancing a
Virtual Range (VR) for space launch modeling capability. The VR discussed in
this paper is a range safety simulation environment. It is capable of
determining the expectation of casualties (EC) resulting from the toxic
effects of gas dispersion caused by a failed space launch and subsequent
explosion (accidental or instructed) of a spacecraft (the Space Shuttle in
this instance) shortly after liftoff. In addition to the above, we are
currently rendering the VR capable of also determining the EC resulting from
falling debris and blast overpressure propagation, which are the others two
major hazards resulting from a spacecraft explosion. We also investigate two
data fusion approaches to estimate the EC resulting from the combined effects
of the three hazards mentioned above, as their effects may not necessarily be
independent of each other.
Validating a Division I-A College Football Season
Simulation System
Rick L. Wilson (Oklahoma State University)
Abstract:
NCAA Division I-A college football remains the only
major collegiate sport not to have a true playoff to determine its national
champion. A controversial and flawed process termed the Bowl Championship
Series (BCS) has emerged with the goal of matching two teams in a so-called
‘national championship’ game. The BCS has employed a varied set of
computer-based ranking models to help determine the two participants. The
effectiveness of these computer models has never been empirically investigated
in a controlled setting. This paper presents the development of a controlled
test-bed of simulated college football seasons, a necessary preliminary step.
A simulation model is developed and validated against past college football
season data. Results show promise. It is hoped that this simulation process
will allow future systematic study of the various mathematical models used to
rank football teams.
Simulation as Support for Production Planning in
Small and Medium Enterprise: A Case Study
Roberto Revetria, Roberto
Mosca, Lucia Cassettari, and Gianluca Magro (University of Genoa)
Abstract:
The proposed application is related to an Italian small
factory that produces, assembles, and sells mechanical components for awnings.
A general-purpose simulation framework was designed enabling model self-build
according to production process information stored in a relational database.
Moreover, the simulation model was used in conjunction with a statistical
analysis tool in order to build the relationship among selected parameters and
the proposed objective function by mean of Response Surface Methodology and
2nd order regressions meta-models. Obtained output including a set of “control
curves” is able to explain to managers and decision makers the behavior of the
systems as well as serve as test bed for process improvement. The authors
applied the proposed schema to several industrial applications obtaining
interesting results.
