A sequential method for the development of visual interactive meta-simulation models using neural networks

This paper proposes a practical and efficient method for the development of visual interactive meta-simulation models using neural networks. The method first uses a randomised simulation experimental design to obtain a set of results from a previously validated simulation model. The bootstrap technique is used on these results to generate a series of neural network models that are then trained using back propagation. The visual interactive meta-simulation model consists of the collective response from the trained neural network models. The accuracy of the meta-simulation model is assessed using the bootstrap technique and improved accuracy obtained by increasing the size of the randomised simulation experimental design set and re-training. This paper describes the approach, gives results for five example problems and suggests that the method is a practical extension to visual interactive simulation.