Hybrid Agent-Based and Discrete Event Simulation in Mason

Agent-Based Modeling and Discrete Event Simulation are two of the most common simulation approaches supported by several tools. Recently, modelers have started combining these methods to simulate real-world situations that have some elements better represented by DES and others better represented by ABM. However, hybrid ABM and DES simulation has a lack of supporting software, especially open source. This paper introduces a new DES extension to MASON, a widely used ABM tool, to implement both DES and hybrid ABM-DES models. The goal of the system is to help researchers realize hybrid simulations while exploiting the same characteristics that led to MASON’s success, notably its efficiency, extensibility, and ease of integration with other tools. The MASON DES extension is still in its infancy but is already being employed in a large simulation project studying malicious attacks affecting supply chains.