You are here:

37760 - Systems Simulation

Academic Year 2026/2027

                
                        Docente:
                        Lorenzo Donatiello
                    
                        Credits:
                        6
                    
                        SSD:
                        INFO-01/A
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Moduli:
                        
                            Lorenzo Donatiello
                            (Modulo 1)
                        
                            Moreno Marzolla
                            (Modulo 2)
                        
                        Teaching Mode:
                        
                                    In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); 
                                
                                    In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
                                
                            Campus:
                            Bologna
                        
                            Corso:
                            Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
                            Computer Science (cod. 6698)

                                        Course Timetable
                                    
from Sep 24, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have acquired methods and tools to design, implement and validate simulation models for the performance analysis and assessment of computer and communication systems and for the analysis of social systems. Students will be able to design, implement and validate simulation models for the analysis and assessment of complex systems.

Course contents

1. Classification of systems and models;

2. Analytical models and simulation models;

3. Discrete-event simulation: modeling and techniques;

4. Random number and random variate generation;

5. Design and implementation of simulators and simulation environments;

6. Statistical analysis of simulation input and output data;

7. Design of simulation experiments;

8. Verification, validation and testing of simulation models;

9. Agent-based simulation;

10. Digital twins;

11. Analysis and evaluation of complex systems;

12. Introduction to parallel and distributed simulation.

Readings/Bibliography

- M. Law, W. D. Kelton. Simulation Modellino and Analysis, McGraw-Hill, 2015.

- R. M. Fujimoto. Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems, Wiley Interscience, 2000.

- Jerry Banks, John S. Carson, II,Barry L. Nelson, David M. Nicol. Discrete-Event System Simulation, 5/E, Prentice Hall, 2013.

- Christos G. Cassandras, S. Lafortune. Introduction to Discrete Events Systems, Springer, 2021.

- Macal, C., and M. J. North. 2009. Agent-based modeling and simulation. In Proceedings of the 2009 Winter Simulation Conference, ed. M. D. Rossetti, R. R. Hill, B. Johansson, A. Dunkin, and R. G. Ingalls.

- A. Sharma, E. Kosasih, J. Zhang, A. Brintrup, A. Calinescu. Digital Twins: State of the art theory and pratice, challenges, and open research questions. In Journal of Industrial Infromation Integration, vol 30, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2022.100383.

Teaching methods

classroom lectures, practical exercises, project.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists of the development of a simulation project and an oral examination. Each part of the assessment is passed if the student scores at least 18/30 in it. The overall grade is determined on the basis of the results achieved in both the project and the oral examination.

Teaching tools

All course material (lecture slides, exercises and other resources) will be made available on the course web page.

Links to further information

http://www.cs.unibo.it/~donat/

Links to further information

http://www.cs.unibo.it/~donat/

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Donatiello

See the website of Moreno Marzolla