Automated access to multiple computational analyses from a single model of the system of interest is typical in many engineering disciplines, e.g., in mechanical design both finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis can be generated, almost automatically, from a single CAD model. However, in contemporary practice,DELS analyses are often purpose-built to answer specific questions, with an implicit system model and many possible analysis implementations depending on the question, the instance data, and the solver. 

Over the past 70 years, there has been a tremendous amount of research leading to well-founded models to answer questions about planning, scheduling, and flow optimization in DELS, using a wide range of analysis methodologies, including optimization, Markov chains, discrete event simulation and others.  So, when there is a routine question about a DELS instance, for which there already is a well-founded analysis, access to that analysis should be as simple and easy as finding a route on your cell phone using Google maps.

The goal of this research in the Keck VFL is to understand how to make that possible, and to demonstrate the resulting automated model generation for a range of DELS models and questions.