Abstract

Abstract
Visual Interactive Simulation (VIS) is a simulation technique which generates a dynamic display of the model and enables the user to interact with the model while the simulation is running. AWARD (Advanced Warehouse Design) is a VIS system that has been developed by an international consortium of academic institutions and distribution professionals to allow the evaluation of conventional and automated warehouse systems. AWARD uses Computer Aided Design (CAD) techniques for drawing the warehouse layout and configuring the simulation model. The user has no need for programming skills and a user-friendly interface makes it easy to use. High resolution colour graphics and a scale drawing of the warehouse makes the dynamic display of the model a good representation of the real system. This paper will present the development of AWARD, and will discuss the role of the current version in the overall framework of a Decision Support System for warehouse design. The advantages of data-driven generic models as a decision making tool will be highlighted and the use of high-resolution graphics, animation and interactive techniques for improving the communication between the user and the model will be discussed. © 1992 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Abstract
The purpose of this research is to develop a process capable of optimizing the capture of light in a circumscribed space, using a responsive system of skylights. Research is focused on the design of irregular dome-like pavilion spaces circumscribed by curved surfaces, but the envisioned process might be applied to other functional, formal, and spatial typologies. The design of the pavilion starts with the generation of a surface, later tessellated into a matrix of skylights depending on the geographic location and sun orientation. In the constructed pavilion, the skylights react to the variation of daylight intensity during the day to satisfy specified internal lighting needs. Simultaneously, the integration of conception and fabrication using digital tools (CAD-CAM) facilitates the construction of a non-standard, parametric geometry, thereby diminishing the costs of production and allowing for personalization, while assuring global sustainability.

Abstract
The performance of a company depends on its strategic decisions but also on the efficiency of how those decisions are implemented by all of its sectors. In any company there are different sectors or groups, probably physically distributed, with different levels of autonomy, each one controlling local resources and interacting with the others. Many companies use simulation software to analyze critical sectors based in a number of scenarios, in order to estimate the efficiency of the different configurations. The process of simulate alternative solutions can be time consuming. Depending on the software used it may be necessary to generate new simulation models for each solution, develop new applications or change existing ones. This paper describes a simulation framework where each element is modelled using the discrete-event approach and interoperability between elements is achieved by the combination of web services and Agent-based modelling and simulation (ABMS). The use of ABMS in this framework provides an easier way to evaluate alternative solutions. Each sector or group is an agent that can be added or removed from the model to build different configurations. A multi-hierarchical simulation executive is proposed in order to enable the use of different time intervals in each level. This increases the autonomy of the simulation agents and promotes the use of parallel or distributed solutions.

Abstract
The evolution in demand is leading industry market to seek for product orders in smaller lots and shorter deadlines. A need therefore arises to adapt industry production to these market changes. A portuguese plumbing and bath accessories company decided to study a new organization layout for its multi-site production plant. The objective was to evaluate different organization scenarios in order to rationalize the floor layout and reduce costs. This Paper presents a study to evaluate different scenarios for a multi-site production plant using the Arena simulation software tool. The simulation model uses VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to dynamically generate the simulation model. The product data is read from Excel spreadsheets or text files. Autocad is used for defining the plant layout and generating the working center coordinates. The Autocad drawing is used as the simulation background allowing the display of a realistic scaled animation.

Abstract
Industrial companies are faced today with strong competition and fast changing markets. To reduce the risk and evaluate alternatives, simulation is considered to be a good tool. Industrial company's simulation must have sufficient detail to be useful but, at the same time, take into account the external environmental behaviour. Distributed simulation has specific characteristics to study these problems but its complexity limits its use in industry as stated in the literature. To overcome these difficulties, a framework is proposed, offering communication and synchronization mechanisms, which allow the integration of simulation models in the industrial area. To promote semantic interoperability, a business language is also proposed based on the OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL). As industrial companies have a high level of complexity and autonomy, the simulation models work as agents using Agent-based Modelling and Simulation (ABMS) techniques to achieve a more realistic behaviour of the whole system.