Verification and Validation of Simulation Models and Applications: A Methodological Approach

Under pressure, time- and cost-constraints, the importance of modelling and simulation (M&S) techniques for analyses of dynamic systems behaviour is permanently increasing. With respect to the permanent increase of embedding and networking of computing and telecommunication systems, the complexity of real systems applications is permanently increasing. As a consequence, the complexity of models and simulation applications is also increasing, and the urgent demand for developing appropriate verification and validation methods, techniques, and tools to guarantee the models credibility is viable. The basic requirement for analysis of a model’s credibility is to verify the model’s correctness, and to validate its validity with respect to predefined application purposes and validity criteria. This requires that the different design, development and application phases of M&S are well specified, and the results of each phase are well documented.

This paper will present a refined M&S verification and validation (V&V) process based on a multi-phase M&S development and application concept already developed and presented in 2002 [5]. The extended and refined V&V approach will be demonstrated. In addition, we will show how this method can be applied in various application scenarios, and how it can be tailored according to credibility criteria under specified cost, time and application constraints.