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NATO Modelling and Simulation - Glossary of Terms Project

The aim of this document is to create a common understanding of M&S terms and where agreement cannot ultimately be reached, to understand variations in definitions. The M&S community is kindly invited to help us improving this living document by using the dedicated feedback form.

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The ability of a simulation system to handle a growing or reducing amount of work in a capable manner or its ability to be enlarged or reduced to accommodate that change and to maintain time and spatial consistency as the number of entities and accompanying interactions varies.
MSG-120
For example the ability to portray different numbers (from small to large) of entities and interactions.
  
A computer code used in event-driven simulation managing the main list of events. Events are sorted according to increasing time-stamp and additional information is registered such as the event-type and concerned entities.
MSG-120
See “Event Driven Simulation”
  
A specific description of the situation and course of action at an initial or specific moment in time for each element of the situation.
MSDL modified for NATO use.
  
SAF
An alternative  computer generated force (CGF) that allows some limited operator control
MSG-120
For example OneSAF
  
A system/part of the real world being represented by a simulation system
SISO-REF-002-1999
  
The imitation of the operation of a real world system or process over time.
Wikipedia
This term relates to the general activity in M&S. In some cases the term “Simulation” is used to name simulation systems when the context allows it  Can also be described as the use of model(s) over time.
  
A simulation's internal representation of time; it may advance faster, slower, or at the same pace as real time.
MSG-120
See also “Logical Time”
  
M&S system
A combination of interacting elements/components organized to provide a representation of the Simuland for an intended use.
MSG-120
Examples of simulation components are hardware, software, models, databases, human operators and procedures.
  
A device, computer program or system that performs simulation to replace a real-world system or apparatus.
MSG 120
This term can very often be used for describing manned devices, also called “virtual simulation systems”.
  
A simulation system that can be exploited without any interoperation with any other simulation system or real system such as a C2I system.
MSG-120
  
A representation of the real world, within which any combination of players may interact.
MSG 120
The 'players' may be computer models, simulations, people or instrumented real equipments
  
The representation in a synthetic environment of the physical world within which all models exist and interact (i.e. climate, weather, terrain, oceans, space, etc.).
MSG 120
It includes both data and models representing the elements of the environment, their effects on systems, and models of the impact of systems on environmental variables (e.g. contrails, dust clouds from moving vehicles).
  
TDS
A collection of related layers of geospatial data, consisting primarily of terrain elevation data, object geometry, imagery for features and terrain, and feature data and attributes (often in vector format).
UK MoD
  
TENA
A distributed simulation architecture described as an object-oriented data interchange model, a middleware, dedicated libraries to enable interoperability among range systems, facilities, simulations, C4ISR systems in a quick, cost-efficient manner.
MSG 120
Developed by the US Army.
  
A condition that exists when simulation entities are involved in very close interaction such that every action of an entity must be immediately accounted for by the other entities.
  
A variable whose value represents simulated time or real time.
see also simulated time or logical time
  
A discrete simulation of continuous events in which the simulated time advances by intervals chosen independent of the simulated events.
MSG-120
see also “simulated time” or “logical time”
  
Used to indicate the time at which data was updated.
MSG-120
Preferred Term 
Abbreviation 
Admitted Term 
Depreciated Term 
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