Latvian Center of the McLeod Institute for Simulation Sciences

Annual Report for the Academic Year 2001-2002

The Latvian MISS Center operates on the basis of the Department of Modeling and Simulation of Riga Technical University. It uses the departmental facilities (including 15 Pentium II PCs, laser printer, 3M overhead projector and Mitsubishi multimedia projector) and premises.

Main directions of activities:

· simulation of logistics systems;

· simulation of transportation systems;

· simulation of manufacturing systems;

· optimization through simulation;

· simulation-based metamodelling

Simulation software:

· discrete-event: ARENA, WITNESS

· continuous: STELLA

Specialized simulation tools:

· simulation of supply chains: SIMFLEX

Presented theses in the simulation area:

8 Bachelor theses

7 Master theses.

Courses taught:

· Introduction to Modeling and Simulation

· Simulation Software Tools

· Simulation Business Games

· Methodology of Discrete-Event Simulation

Research projects:

1. Research grant from the Latvian Council of Science: "Development and Application of Simulation-Based Tools for Analysis and Optimization of Logistics Systems"

2. Accompanying Measure of the EC IST Program: "Simulation and IT-Solutions: Applications in the Baltic Ports' Areas of the Newly Associated States"

Cooperation with European simulation centers:

1. Student exchange:

o With the University of Ghent (Belgium), Department of Industrial Management:

§ 2 students from Riga (Dace Freivalde and Ilze Dukalska) worked 3 months in Ghent, preparing theses in the area of manufacturing simulation;

§ A student from Ghent (Steven Vansteenkiste) worked 3 months in Riga, preparing a thesis in the area of supply chain simulation.

§ All 3 theses were successfully presented in the home universities.

2. Project work:
• With Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands): A joint chapter (Chapter 8. Simulation. P. 100-239) was prepared (by prof. Alexander Verbraeck, Delft, and prof. Yuri Merkuryev, Riga) for the textbook “Logistics Information Systems” (Ed. By Egils Ginters, Jumi Ltd., Riga, 2002. ISBN 9964-30-021-8) that has been published within the project "Long-distance tutorial network in "Logistics Information Systems” based on WEB technologies" of the Leonardo da Vinci programme of the European Commission (Pilot Project LV/00/B/F/PP-138.003 LOGIS).
• With Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany): a joint project “Simulation and IT-solutions: Applications in the Baltic port areas of the newly associated states” of the EC IST Program (Accompanying measure No IST-2001-33030 BALTPORTS-IT)

Cooperation with other MISS centers:

With the Genova MISS Center:

o Organization of the annual HMS (Harbour, Maritime & Multimodal Logistics Modelling and Simulation) international workshop:

§ HMS’2001 was held in Marseilles, France, during October 15-17, 2001;

§ HMS’2002 will be held in Bergeggi, Italy, during October 3-5, 2002.

o A joint publication in the HLA area: "Advances in HLA Based Education for Supply Chain Management" by Agostino Bruzzone, Roberto Revetria, Yuri Merkuryev, Galina Merkuryeva and Giorgio Diglio, - in the Proceedings of the HMS’2001 international workshop "Harbour, Maritime and Multimodal Logistics Modelling & Simulation" (October 15-17, 2001, Marseilles, France)

Prof. Yuri Merkuryev

Director of the Latvian MISS Center

Riga Technical University

1, Kalku Street

LV-1658 Riga, Latvia

Tel. +371-7089514

Fax +371-7089513

E-mail: merkur@itl.rtu.lv