Models for Research and Understanding

This introductory textbook/reference addresses the fundamental and mostly applied kinds of models. The focus is on models of dynamic systems that move and change over time. However, the work also proposes new methods of uncertainty treatment, offering supporting examples.

Topics and features:

• Chapters suitable for textbook use in teaching modeling and simulation
• Includes sections of questions and answers, helpful in didactic work
• Proposes new methodology in addition to examining conventional approaches
• Offers some cognitive, more abstract models to give a wider insight on model building

The book’s readership may consist of researchers working on multidisciplinary problems, as well educators and students. It may be used while teaching computer simulation, applied mathematics, system analysis and system dynamics.

Stanislaw Raczynski received his master degree (1964) from the Academy of  Mining and Metallurgy (AGH, now called Technical University of Krakow) in Krakow Poland, Electrical Engineering Department, his PhD. (1969) and Habilitation degree (1977)  from the same Academy,  in the area of control theory and optimization methods.  In 1964 Dr. Raczynski joined the Institute for Automatics  and Industrial Electronics of the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Krakow. From 1971 through 1972, he was the head of the Computer  Center of the AGH.  Between 1973 and 1976 he worked as a researcher in  the International Research Group in Moscow, USSR (located in the Institute for Control Problems of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR).  The  research  area  was operations research and computer simulation.  In 1976  Dr. Raczynski became head of  the  Systems  Analysis Group  at  the Academy of Mining andMetallurgy  in  Krakow.   From 1980 through  1983  he participated in the activities of the European Workshop on Industrial  Computer Systems. Between 1983 and 1986 he was a visiting professor of the National University of Mexico.  In 1986 Dr. Raczynski joined the Panamericana University in Mexico City, Engineering Department.  His didactic activities include courses on control theory, electronics and computer simulation.

Between 1996 and 2000 and then between 2002 and 2004 Dr. Raczynski had been the International Director of The Society for Computer Simulation. In 2003-2004 is the international co-director of the McLeod Institute for Simulation Sciences (part of The Society  for  Computer  Simulation in San Diego, California). From 1996 up to now he is a member of the National System of Researchers of Mexico. Between 1994 and 2003 Dr. Raczynski was the director of the Mexican Center of the McLeod Institute of Simulation Sciences. He wrote two books on computer simulation and has more than 140 articles and papers published in professional journals and conference proceedings.