Web-based distributed interactive simulation using Java

Interfaces in interactive simulations not only display the state of the simulated system, but also allow an analyst to interact with the executing simulation. As the simulation executes in real time or scaled time, the analyst can modify the parameters and alter the dynamics of the simulated system. The major challenges in developing interactive simulations are problems associated with computer hardware and software. In this article, we describe an approach in applying the Internet infrastructure to overcome the hardware and software problems associated with the development of interactive simulations. We present a portable, object-oriented, interactive simulation architecture, called JADIS-Web, implemented in Java. Through our architecture, users can interact concurrently with the simulation from distributed locations via an Internet browser. We discuss the components of the architecture and outline its application to an aircraft repair time analysis problem in the domain of airbase logistics.