My recent article.

Creating flexible, digital models that reflect the world around us.This is where the real strengths of Discrete Event Simulation (DES), or time-based process simulation, can be brought in.

Using tools such as Lanner Witness or AnyLogic, a digital model can be created from the macro to the micro scale, including global supply chain and logistics, down to individual site operations.Digital models built within these tools are made with the logic and rules necessary to represent the real-world process and constrain the system.These are typically based around the flow of operations, their dependencies and the resources required to complete them.

However, one does not need to rigidly prescribe any of these aspects in detail, or hard-code them, to derive the results, but rather use the simulation engine to logically sequence operations and how resources are used.. A simple example of this could be a set of assembly operations occurring simultaneously, which use both shared components – bolts, for example – and resources, such as an operator or a wrench.Creating this model in a simulation tool would require defining individual assembly sequences and required resources at each step, the resources available and, depending on the requirements of the project, component stock, transport, and necessary aspects of the supply chain.

When the model is run, the simulation engine dynamically uses resources and components to complete the tasks and the model statistics derived could indicate how both individual processes, and the system, would perform..

Ultimately this also allows for modelling flexibility as operations sequences, rules and resource information can be loaded from external files and changed dynamically during model runtime.Newly adopted habits also affect residential design.

In many cases, domestic buildings used to be empty during the central hours of the day, but with the more frequent adoption of homeworking, daylight, thermal comfort and air quality will become more important.The standards for daylight in residential buildings, for instance, have always been lower than in workspaces, and overheating is a growing phenomenon in new homes in the UK.

With the changes in working patterns, it is possible that post-pandemic size, layouts, daylight and thermal requirements of residential buildings evolve to accommodate spaces better suited to work..Improving indoor air quality and hygiene.