SABLE: Agent Support for the Consolidation of Enterprise-Wide Data-Oriented Simulations

Simulations are programs that model some real world situations and mirror their interactions in the software domain. In most cases, conclusions can be made based on the analysis of initial and resulting data of the simulation. Consequently, large amounts of data are processed and stored, as both inputs and outputs of the simulation. Handling data is common to most simulation domains, however there is limited specialized support for simulation-based data management. Most simulation environments utilize batch files (large text files) to both supply initial data and record resultant data. This solution is quick and accessible, but there are several problems. One problem is standardization. Even within small corporations there can be multiple data formats for batch files, reducing interoperability between simulation programs. A second problem is the tightly coupled dependency between the correct operation of the simulation and consistency of the file formats and file directory structure. Moreover within one corporation, there can be redundant implementations of file streaming methods. Developers also neglect the benefits of persistence and concurrency that can be provided by a Database Management System (DBMS). This paper introduces SABLE (Simulation-oriented Agent-Based Library and Environment) as a solution to these problems. SABLE is an agent-controlled environment that enforces the policy of a specialized data format, integrates a DBMS, and removes the task of data management from the developers of the simulation program.