Theories of discrete event model abstraction

The author critically examines possibilities for a formal basis of model abstraction and possibilities for procedures to perform model abstraction. It is noted that model abstraction is frequently done by modelers when the complexity of their models exceeds the power of their resources, i.e., too much space or time would be taken by simulations. It is the responsibility of simulation methodologists to propose sound ways of generating more abstract models from more detailed ones. Model abstraction also serves the purpose of learning more about model behavior and inferring properties that otherwise may remain uncovered. It is pointed out that no complete theories of model abstraction exist, nor does any sufficiently general procedure