Date of Award:

5-1986

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Computer Science

Committee Chair(s)

Del Dyreson

Committee

Del Dyreson

Committee

Charles P. Hawkins

Committee

Donald H. Cooley

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to develop a program that would accept, as input, a finite set of algebraic equations and simple if-then conditional expressions that model a natural system, and then produce a continuous computer simulation with graphics and tabular output. The equations and conditionals can be in any order and key elements can be missing. The program can be used to run existing models or as a development tool to produce immediate prototypic computer simulations through synergistic man-machine interactions.

The theoretical aspects of automatic program generation were discussed, as well as the architectural design of the system. The simulation system was used to develop a computer simulation of an exploited Northern Utah pheasant population and the results were compared to the results from an earlier FORTRAN computer simulation of the same model.

It was concluded that the simulation system developed for this thesis produces verified computer simulations from mathematical models that are at least as accurate as the corresponding simulation written in FORTRAN. The system was easy to use and should be useful for unsophisticated users. Some "tuning'' of the input was needed to produce a verified simulation and it was concluded that further work was needed here.

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