2006 August 1
2004-2006 Report
of Dr. Tuncer Ören
Member-at-Large to the Board of Directors
of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International
As an active member of SCS, I enjoyed the opportunities offered by the following platforms which enabled my activities during 2004-2006:
- Member of BOD
- Associate Vice President for Ethics
- Associate Vice President for Student Chapters
- Founding Director, M&SNet - McLeod Modeling and Simulation Network
- Representative of M&SNet to SimSummit
- Founding Director, Ottawa Center of MISS
- SCS Distinguished Lecturer
- Member of the Editorial Board, JDMS - Journal for Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology
- Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, Simulation - Transactions of the SCS
I would like to express my appreciations for the SCS platforms offered to me as well as my sincere thanks for the thoughtful act of honoring me at the opening of the SummerSim 2006 by offering me a Distinguished Service Award for “... many years of Outstanding Leadership and Support to the Society, including leading the effort on the M&S Code of Ethics.”
Activities:
1. Ethics (SimEthics)
2. Multilingual M&S Dictionary (SimDic)
3. Student Chapters
4. Body of Knowledge of M&S (M&SBOK)
5. Conferences
6. Publications
7. M&SNet (The McLeod Modeling and Simulation Network of SCS)
1. Ethics (SimEthics):
1.1 Status: Currently the Code is adopted by the following organizations:
(In order of adoption):
· SCS - Society for Modeling and Simulation International (Resolution)
· MISS - Mcleod Institute of Simulation Sciences (Resolution) (To see: MISS Centers)
· M&SNet - McLeod Modeling and Simulation Network (Resolution (To see: Member Organizations)
· SISO - Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (Resolution)
· SISO Canada (Resolution) (They also post the French translation of the Code)
· AMSC - Alabama Modeling and Simulation Council (To see: Members and Member Organizations)
· The latest group which adopted the Code of Ethics is NMSG (NATO Modeling and Simulation Group). Adoption: May 2006 at their Business Meeting. They will also post the French translation of the Code.
As soon as I receive the NATO website about the adoption, I will post it on the website of SimEthics.
1.2 Planned Activities:
1.2.1 To redesign and update the website of SimEthics at http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_Ethics/ethics.htm (which is easier for me to update) and to inform SCS (M. Chinni) to update the official site of SimEthics at SCS http://www.scs.org/ethics/
1.2.2 Aim: to increase the domain of acceptance and of practice of Ethics.
- To promote acceptance of Code of Ethics as a requirement to be certified as a professional simulationists.
- To promote adoption of the Code of ethics by serious M&S Companies.
- Coordinate the activities of Ethics (under the umbrella of M&SNet of SCS)
within SimSummit 2006-08
Leader Organization: M&SNet
Participating Organizations:
ACM SIGSIM
Computer Sciences Corporation
Georgia Tech (MSREC)
John Hopkins University (JHU/APL)
M&SNet
McLeod Institute of Simulation Sciences (MISS) (Member organization of M&SNet)
Northrop Grumman
Old Dominion (VMASC) (Member organization of M&SNet)
Teledyne Brown Engineering
University of Central Florida (IST) (Member organization of M&SNet)
2. Multilingual M&S Dictionary (SimDic):
This project is carried out as an M&SNet project.
(As a first phase, only the terms are compiled and not the definitions)
2.1 Status: The following is achieved:
A first version of the dictionary is published (2006 June)
(about 4500 terms organized in a systematic way;
for example, under the word variable over 100 types of variables are listed)
Title: Modeling and Simulation Dictionary – English-French-Turkish; ISBN: 2-9524747-0-2
Authors: Tuncer Ören and the French team (Lucile Torres –coordinator)
and 13 French Scientists)
Published by: Universié Paul Cézanne, in Marseilles, France
with the financial contributions of :
- LSIS (Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Information et des Systèmes
(Information and Systems Sciences Laboratory) and
- CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Available from: LSIS
URL of the SimDic Project: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_MSNet/simDic.htm
2.2 Ongoing Activities and Future Plans:
2.2.1 Spanish Terms
- The dictionary is being extended to included Spanish terms.
- This version currently contains about 5700 terms
- Spanish team includes 15 Spanish colleagues and is being coordinated by Dr. Toni Guasch (from MSDS - (Modeling & Simulation of Dynamic Systems (CEA-IFAC Spanish Thematic Group)) which is a member organization of the M&SNet.
- Already the Spanish equivalents have been proposed by the Spanish colleagues and revised by Tuncer Ören. They will be scrutinized three more times. We plan to finalize it during 2007 Spring.
- The French colleagues will be working on the French equivalents of about 1200 additional terms.
2.2.1 Italian Terms:
Prof. Agostino Bruzzone (Director of MISS – a founding member of M&SNet) and Genoa Center of MISS agrees to lead an Italian team to extend the dictionary. The work is scheduled to start soon; it is anticipated to finalize the dictionary by end of 2007.
2.2.3 Some Other possibilities:
- It is anticipated that NMSG (NATO Modeling and Simulation Group) may be interested to adopt the multilingual M&S dictionary. In this case, the dictionary can be extended to some or all of the member countries of NATO.
- I am in touch with the Director of NMSG. The fact that NMSG has adopted the Code of Ethics is an encouraging point along this line.
- I am also in touch with a leading Chinese colleague for the preparation of an English-Chinese and Chinese-English version of the M&S dictionary.
3. Student Chapters:
3.1 Status:
The first student chapter of SCS is formed in Ottawa under the leadership of
Dr. Gabriel Weiner (Co-associate Director of the Ottawa Center of MISS – a member of M&SNet).
The URL: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_SC/SCS-SChapters.htm
The bylaws of the first Student Chapter is a good example to formulate bylaws for other chapters.
3.2 Plans:
- All member organizations of M&SNet and all Centers of MISS will be encouraged (Fall of 2006) to form Student Chapters.
- After the establishment of a few more Student Chapters, SCS Office will be contacted to have a page for Student Chapters and a visible pointer at the homepage of SCS.
4. Body of Knowledge of M&S (M&SBOK):
4.1 Status:
- I am working to develop the Body of Knowledge of M&S .
- URL: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/MSBOK/MSBOK-index.htm
- A Review Committee is being established to (1) revise the M&SBOK and (2) to provide proactive advice to be taken into account in the preparation of the M&SBOK.
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/MSBOK/revCom.htm
The members of M&SNet were (are still) invited to be active in the Review Committee.
4.2 Ongoing and Future Work:
- William F. Waite, Chairman of the SimSummit Executive Committee has been an avid advocate of the development the M&SBOK. He also established a website for M&SBOK. I am planning to continue cooperating with him in finalizing a joint article and a joint presentation at I/ITSEC 2006.
- Within SimSummit, M&SNet will have an active role to work on the M&SBOK study:
Leader Organizations:
AEgis Technologies Group
M&SNet
Old Dominion (VMASC) (Member organization of M&SNet)
Participating Organizations:
ACM SIGSIM
Arizona (ACIMS) (Member organization of M&SNet)
CAE Professional Services
Computer Sciences Corporation
Georgia Tech (MSREC)
John Hopkins University (JHU/APL)
M&SNet
McLeod Institute of Simulation Sciences (MISS) (Member organization of M&SNet)
NMSO
Northrop Grumman
NTSA
SCS
Teledyne Brown Engineering
U.S. AFAMS
University of Alabama in Huntsville (CMSA)
University of Central Florida (IST) (Member organization of M&SNet)
5. Conferences
(Details are at: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/index-conf/confs_2000s.htm )
5.1 Status:
During 2004, 2005, and 2006, I was/am involved in, 18, 21 and 13 conferences / seminars / workshops, respectively. Of these, 7 (2+2+3) are SCS events.
(In 2005 10 invited papers/talks in 4 conferences/seminars held in countries: China, France, Turkey, and the USA and four invited talks are declined: France, Germany, Turkey.)
5.2 Ongoing and Planned:
For 2007, I am already committed to contribute to two SCS Conferences.
6. Publications:
(Details are at: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/index-pubs/pubs-2000s.htm )
6.1 Status:
During 2004, 2005, and 2006, I published 11, 15, and 13 articles and books, respectively, as author, co-author, editor-in-chief, or co-editor. Of these 12 (3+5+4) are SCS publications.
(During June, July 2006: three books published in France, Turkey, and the USA.)
6.2 Planned Publications:
For 2007, I plan to submit three articles as SCS publications.
7. M&SNet (The McLeod Modeling and Simulation Network of SCS):
7.1 Background
- The McLeod Modeling and Simulation Network (M&SNet) is a consortium of co-operating independent organizations active in professionalism, research, education, and knowledge dissemination in the modeling and simulation (M&S) domain.
- Currently, M&SNet consists of 12 member organizations: International (1), Canada (1), France (2), Italy (1) Korea (1), Spain (1), and USA (5)
Additional information can be found at its website: M&SNet:
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_MSNet/MSNet-index.htm
(After posting the last activities, I will advise SCS Office for updating the official site of M&SNet at: http://www.scs.org/msnet/ )
7.2 Formation of M&Snet:
The Policy and Procedures document is ratified by the Board of the SCS on July 24, 2003. Soon after I was appointed as the founding director. Originally it was suggested that the director of M&SNet be appointed by the President of the SCS. However, during the Board meeting of the SCS on July 24, 2003, the following was decided:
"The M&SNet has a Director appointed by the Vice President of Education with approval of the President of the SCS. It has an Executive Committee formed by the directors of the member organizations of the M&SNet."
7.3 Activities:
7.3.1. Coordinate the activities of Ethics (under the umbrella of M&SNet of SCS)
within SimSummit 2006-08 as reported in 1.2.
7.3.2. Please see: 2. Multilingual M&S Dictionary (SimDic):
This project is carried out as an M&SNet project.
7.3.3. The first student chapter of SCS is formed in Ottawa under the leadership of Dr. Gabriel Weiner (Co-associate Director of the Ottawa Center of MISS – a member of M&SNet). All member organizations of M&SNet and all Centers of MISS will be encouraged (Fall of 2006) to form Student Chapters.
7.3.4. Body of Knowledge of M&S (M&SBOK):
The members of M&SNet were invited to be active in the Review Committee.
Within SimSummit, M&SNet will have an active role to work on the M&SBOK study.
Please see: 4.2
7.3.5. Conferences:
Some member organizations have been very active in organizing SCS conferences / symposia; they are: ACIMS, AMSL, LSIS, MSDS, MISS, MISS: Genoa Center, and MISS: Ottawa Center. Some others, active in organizing conferences need to be motivated to reveal their M&SNet relationship.
7.3.6. Publications:
Until now, only few researchers have the habit of indicating their M&SNet affiliations in their publications. They are AMSL and MISS: Ottawa Center. The others will continue to be motivated to do similarly.
At Ottawa Center of MISS (member organization of M&SNet), a collection of books, proceedings and journals is established:
The collection includes
- complete set of “Simulation” journal,
- over 500 books and proceedings on M&S,
- over 100 books and proceedings on systems theories (to provide strong background for modeling and symbolic model processing),
- about 75 books and proceedings on AI, and
- about 100 books and proceedings on other topics, including mathematics.
Soon, a searchable Excel table will be posted at the website of the Ottawa Center of MISS: http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_OC-MISS/index.htm
(Originally, we wanted to donate the collection to the library of either one of the two universities in Ottawa. However, our offer was turned down.)
7.4 Planned Activities within SimSummit:
Already two planned activities are reported above:
- As reported under 1.2.2:
“Coordinate the activities of Ethics (under the umbrella of M&SNet of SCS)”
within SimSummit 2006-08
- As reported under 4.2:
“Within SimSummit, M&SNet will have an active role to work on the M&SBOK study”
- Additional planned activities:
M&SNet is listed the leader (alone or with other organizations) for the following tasks:
- Research agenda
- Composability
- Stakeholders
- Body-of-Knowledge Specification
- Code of Ethics
M&SNet is listed as participant organization (with other organizations) for the following additional tasks:
- Interoperability
- Data Management
- Architecture Management
- Work Force Development Needs / Requirements
- Community-of-Practice
- Curricular Management
- Professional Certification
- Identity, recognition
- Scope
- Fragmentation Versus Synergy
- M&S Asset (life-cycle) Management
- Organizational Relations
- Business Case Specification
- Acquisition/Procurement Application
- Reuse of M&S assets
- Economic impact
7.5 Other Planned Activities:
7.5.1 A chronic problem will be tackled in concert with the SCS Office (Steve Branch) and all member organizations will be asked to pay their membership fees; after clarification of the benefits of being an Institutional member (http://www.scs.org/Membership_Dues.cfm ).
Since most member organizations are academic, a time limit until end of September 2006 will be considered.
7.5.2 One member organization, i.e., MISS is exempt from paying membership fees.
Similarly it is proposed that the membership fee of the organization of the Director of the M&SNet be waived as a compensation of in kind contribution.
7.5.3 Several other activities are planned to be reactivated and revitalized.
Respectfully submitted,
Tuncer Ören, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/
AVP for Ethics (2002-2004) (2004-2006)
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_Ethics/ethics.htm
AVP for Student Chapters (2004-2006)
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_SC/SCS-SChapters.htm
Founding Director of M&SNet (2002-2004) (2004-2006)
http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~oren/SCS_MSNet/MSNet-index.htm