Distributed web-based simulation optimization

Abstract

Web technology is having a significant impact on computer simulation. Most of the effort in web-based simulation is aimed at modeling, particularly at building simulation languages and at creating model libraries that can be assembled and executed over the web. We focus on the efficiency of simulation experimentation for optimization. We introduce a framework for combining the statistical efficiency of simulation optimization techniques with the effectiveness of parallel execution algorithms. In particular, the Optimal Computing Budget Allocation (OCBA) algorithm is implemented in a web-based environment for low-cost parallel and distributed simulation experimentation. A prototype implementation with some experimental results is presented.