Visual interactive simulation modelling in a decision support role

Visual interactive simulation (VIS) has revolutionized the practice of simulation, but simulation modelers have been slow to recognize the obvious relationship between VIS models and decision support systems. As a consequence, simulation modelers often build their models without paying sufficient attention to the usefulness of the dynamic graphic display to a decision maker facing the analysis of a complex problem. This paper presents an example problem to illustrate some design features that can transform a simulation model with animated output into a visual interactive decision support system (which happens to contain a simulation model).