Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!sri-unix!rutgers!labrea!aurora!ames!sdcsvax!ucbvax!bikini.cis.ufl.EDU!fishwick
From: fishwick@bikini.cis.ufl.EDU (Paul Fishwick)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest
Subject: Qualitative Simulation/Analysis
Message-ID: <8708240436.AA18994@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Fri, 21-Aug-87 11:17:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8708240436.AA18994
Posted: Fri Aug 21 11:17:46 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Aug-87 00:48:18 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 16
Approved: ailist@stripe.sri.com


In reference to the question on definitions for qualitative simulation
and analysis: the two terms should not be considered identical. If we
temporarily drop the adjective 'qualitative' then we have the terms
simulation and analysis --- simulation includes analysis of data but
also includes the primary area of modeling.

On a slightly different note, though, the term 'qualitative simulation'
is somewhat difficult to define since ultimately all simulations on
digital machinery will be quantitative. Qualitative modeling and
simulation in general seem to reflect the need to represent highly abstract
models using 'qualitative' terms. These terms are mapped onto the
real number space (for instance) and a quantitative simulation ensues.

Paul Fishwick
University of Florida