Generating Interactive 3-D Models for Discrete-Event Modeling Formalisms

In this paper an automatic transformation of arbitrary manufacturing models (modeled as queuing net or stochastic Petri net) to an interactive 3D visualization and animation (realized in a game-engine) is presented. The motivation behind this is, to make the very useful but rather boring mathematical models formulated as queuing net or Petri net easily accessible for users and decision makers, who are not interested in the details of the mathematical modeling formalism. Queuing networks and Petri nets have a long tradition and are a well accepted means for modeling, simulation and analysis of discrete event systems. Although these formalisms have a graphical notation intuitive to use for experts, they lack a good presentation layer which is needed for acceptance in industry or for commercial purposes, or for academic non experts.