Simulation
Simulation is a very flexible modelling approach, which makes it one of the most widely used Operational Research techniques. The approach taken is to model the behaviour of individual elements within the system, often using random sampling to generate realistic variability. The overall behaviour of the system emerges from the interactions between the elements.
The simulation process consists of problem definition, conceptual modelling, model coding, model verification and validation, experimentation and analysis of results, and solution implementation. Application areas for simulation in industry include manufacturing, call centres, business processes, service operations, military, transport, health care, IT, and environment. There are also applications in many other areas of science.
The simulation group is led by Professor Mike Pidd and Dr Roger Brooks. There are currently 8 PhD students and several funded research projects. Simulation methods are taught to undergraduates, MBAs and to specialist Masters students. The post-doc researcher will develop her own research in collaboration with Professor Pidd and Dr Brooks. Current simulation research includes:
- Conceptual modelling in discrete simulation.
- High performance simulation of quasi-continuous manufacturing plant.
- The distributed simulation of distributed supply chains.
- Using simulation to support performance measurement in public services
- Using the .Net framework to support effective distributed simulation.
- Virtual reality and computer simulation in manufacturing.
Computer facilities are good, with access to the University’s High Performance Cluster and to National Supercomputers, as well as PCs. Links to the University’s Department of Computing are encouraged as are those to its Department of Mathematics & Statistics, both of which also have very strong international research records.
If you have any queries you wish to discuss, please contact:
Mike Pidd: email: m.pidd@lancaster.ac.uk or phone 01524 592946
Roger Brooks: email roger.brooks@lancaster.ac.uk or phone 01524 593866
If you would like to apply for a PhD, please see our PhD admission page.
Potential topics
There are potential research opportunities in the technology, process or applications of simulation. As a guide, current or recent research within the department includes:
- Component-based simulation
- Parallel and distributed simulation
- Object-oriented approaches
- Web-based simulation
- Combining discrete and continuous simulation
- Business process modelling
- Conceptual modelling
- Model simplification
- Complex adaptive systems
- Boolean networks
- Agent-based simulation
- Random number generators
- Output analysis
- Applications in population genetics and agriculture
