Simulation verification is a critical process in the development of computer simulations. It's essentially checking if the simulation model you've built is working correctly according to its design plan.
Defining Simulation Verification
Based on the provided reference, verification of a computer simulation model is the process of confirming that it is correctly implemented with respect to the conceptual model (it matches specifications and assumptions deemed acceptable for the given purpose of application).
In simpler terms, think of the conceptual model as the blueprint or plan for your simulation – it describes how the real-world system is supposed to be represented and how the simulation should behave. Verification is the step where you rigorously check the computer code and logic you've written (the implementation) to make sure it precisely follows that blueprint and meets all the specifications and assumptions laid out in the plan.
It's about ensuring the model is built right, checking for internal consistency, logical errors, and ensuring the code accurately reflects the intended design before you even start thinking about whether the model accurately represents the real world (that's validation).
Why is Verification Important?
Getting verification right is crucial for several reasons:
- Accuracy: Ensures the simulation performs the calculations and logic exactly as designed.
- Reliability: Builds confidence that any results produced by the simulation are a consequence of the intended logic, not coding errors.
- Foundation: Provides a solid, bug-free base for the next step, which is validation (checking if the model represents reality).
- Efficiency: Finding and fixing implementation errors early in the development process is much less costly and time-consuming than discovering them later.
Key Aspects Checked During Verification
When verifying a simulation model, you're confirming:
- Correct Implementation: Is the code written correctly? Does it follow the algorithms and logic specified in the conceptual model?
- Matching Specifications: Does the implemented model adhere to all the detailed requirements and rules defined during the design phase?
- Meeting Assumptions: Are the underlying assumptions about how the model should operate properly translated into the code?
Common Verification Techniques
Various methods are used to perform simulation verification, focusing on checking the implementation against the design:
- Code Walk-throughs: Reviewing the code line by line with the development team to spot logical errors or deviations from the design.
- Debugging: Using software tools to step through the code, inspect variables, and identify issues.
- Structured Testing: Designing specific tests to check individual components or modules of the simulation.
- Input/Output Analysis: Comparing the simulation's output for simple, known input scenarios against expected results calculated manually or through simple models.
- Tracing: Tracking the flow of logic and variable values through the simulation code for specific events.
In essence, simulation verification is the internal quality control step that confirms your simulation software is working as intended by its own design specifications.
