New Mexico Computer Science For All Abstraction in

New Mexico Computer Science For All Abstraction in Modeling and Simulation Maureen Psaila-Dombrowski

Abstraction • Abstraction is Simplification • Why? ▫ “Real world” problems are too complicated ▫ Must simply in order to model ▫ Ignoring some details or parts so that you can focus on what is important to you at that time. ▫ As your interests change the amount of abstraction you need can change too.

Assumptions • Abstraction involves assumptions (things that you take to be true). �Before abstraction �During abstraction �After abstraction during model development • Assumptions are what the modeler assumes when moving from the real world problem to a model. �Sometimes a simplification �Sometimes a specification • Assumptions need to be carefully considered �Affect the outcome of the model �Should be validated

Pond Ecosystem

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Living �Rabbit Characteristics • • Birth Death Metabolism Infection �People �Plants �Other animals �Microscopic o Nonliving �Water �Soil �Weather �Disasters �Pollution

• Run simple rabbit model

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Living �Rabbit Characteristics • • Birth Death Metabolism Infection �People �Plants (+ regrowing) �Other animals �Microscopic o Nonliving �Water �Soil �Weather �Disasters �Pollution

• Run more advanced rabbit model

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Rabbit’s Ecosystem There are many things that affect Rabbit populations: o Living �Rabbit Characteristics • Birth ▫ Birth rate • Death • Metabolism • Infection �People �Plants (+ regrowing) ▫ Caloric value or energy �Other animals ▫ Birth rate �Microscopic o Nonliving �Water �Soil �Weather �Disasters �Pollution

Summary • • Abstraction is required for modeling Can vary the amount of abstraction as needed Abstraction involves assumption. Assumptions can affect the outcome of the model