Exploiting web service techniques for composing simulation models

Two basic approaches to simulation model composition can be distinguished, depending on whether the unit of composition is a model specification according to a certain modeling formalism or the component is a simulation system wrapping the actual model implementation. Model-based approaches mainly provide user-friendly means for modular-hierarchical construction of complex models but come with limited capabilities for compositional reasoning. Simulation-based composition approaches explicitly distinguish between interface descriptions and model implementations and thereby facilitate a reasoning about compositions based solely on publicized interfaces descriptions. However, compositional reasoning about interoperability at the conceptual level and on overall model validity is currently not very elaborated. This paper takes a closer look at Web services technologies and discusses how to adapt them to the problem of model composition.