A Military-based distributed interactive simulation (DIS) such as ModSAF has been used for many years. Several problems of the DIS-based simulation to support a large and heterogeneous virtual simulation environments have been discovered (Stone, Zyda, Brutzman, and Falby 1996). To solve these problems, we propose an architectural multi-agent-based framework to support a large military-based simulation with 3D visualization using inexpensive game simulators. Several software agents are used to support interoperability between DIS-based military simulation nodes and Unreal Tournament game simulators. The agents are used to reduce DIS tra#c to e#ciently utilize network bandwidth. They also perform protocol conversion between the DIS protocol and a game engine protocol. Additionally, using a multi-agent system, our work is easily expandable to support several network environments and also to support agent-based intelligent operations. Our main contribution is threefold. First, our framework is based on software agents which can be distributed in any network environments to support a large distributed interactive simulation network. Second, our framework uses a game simulation environment for 3D visualization which can support interactive activities, and it is a#ordable for research in human visualization. Third, our framework is extensible to provide intelligent operations such as information fusion agent-based interface for operators.

The model used in this report focuses on the analysis of ship waiting statistics and stock fluctuations under different arrival processes. However, the basic outline is the same: central to both models are a jetty and accompanying tankfarm facilities belonging to a new chemical plant in the Port of Rotterdam. Both the supply of raw materials and the export of finished products occur through ships loading and unloading at the jetty. Since disruptions in the plants production process are very expensive, buffer stock is needed to allow for variations in ship arrivals and overseas exports through large ships. Ports provide jetty facilities for ships to load and unload their cargo. Since ship delays are costly, terminal operators attempt to minimize their number and duration. Here, simulation has proved to be a very suitable tool. However, in port simulation models, the impact of the arrival process of ships on the model outcomes tends to be underestimated. This article considers three arrival processes: stock-controlled, equidistant per ship type, and Poisson. We assess how their deployment in a port simulation model, based on data from a real case study, affects the efficiency of the loading and unloading process. Poisson, which is the chosen arrival process in many client-oriented simulations, actually performs worst in terms of both ship delays and required storage capacity. Stock-controlled arrivals perform best with regard to ship delays and required storage capacity. In the case study two types of arrival processes were considered. The first type are the so-called stock-controlled arrivals, i.e., ship arrivals are scheduled in such a way, that a base stock level is maintained in the tanks. Given a base stock level of a raw material or ...

This article describes an architectural approach for rapidly constructing middleware by taking advantage of built-in capabilities for processing, communication, and interoperation that a multiagent infrastructure provides. Several software agents based on Reusable Environment for Task-Structured Intelligent Networked Agents (RETSINAs) are used to support interoperability between military simulation nodes based on distributed interactive simulation and Unreal game simulators. Using a multiagent system, UTSAF can be expanded to support several network environments and interact with other agent-based software