What is the difference between activity and event in "simulation"?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the distinction between activities and events in simulation contexts. Activities are defined as processes that take a specified length of time to cause changes, such as making a deposit or eating a burger. In contrast, events are instantaneous occurrences that can change the state of a system, such as the arrival of a customer or the completion of service. The key difference lies in the temporal nature of activities versus the instantaneous nature of events, with examples illustrating how multiple events can occur within a single activity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of simulation concepts
  • Familiarity with system state changes
  • Knowledge of endogenous and exogenous events
  • Basic comprehension of time-based processes in simulations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of activities in discrete event simulation
  • Explore the concept of state changes in system modeling
  • Learn about the classification of events in simulation frameworks
  • Investigate tools for visualizing activities and events in simulations
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in system modeling, simulation analysts, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of activities and events within simulation environments.

shivajikobardan
Messages
637
Reaction score
54
I am studying about components of a system.

Activity-:

It is What entities do to cause changes is activity. It is represented by time period of a specified length.

Event-:

Event is defined as an instantaneous occurrence that might change state of the system. Endogenous events occurs within the system and exogenous events occurs outside the system.

eg-: making a deposit is an activity, arrival of customer is an exogenous event and completion of service of a customer is an endogenous event.

I don't see any difference between them. making deposits can also be an event as it'll change the state of the system. i.e money in bank account.

The one difference that can be taken from these definitions is "instantaneous" vs "time period' but the examples don't deliver anything about it.

Below is the figure from a slide available online.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/chMzYhlTlQxQnffh5UfK6qQZTl10HyYnUBBh0j4PiyTeF7A7_-qi1qxsr9on4Rvp6iUiMkz_haHmoPJUdVeybaWkhtwhWsGBFGrxDjiXqCW9mEguaVfdXMs259fd1Y7ziXJU_GMA4ydvMOxJ2e_kM4I
 
Physics news on Phys.org
An activity, for lack of a better word, takes time. Getting the burger from the counter is an event, but eating it is an activity. Ordering is an activity. Talking with the wait staff, "you want fries with that", etc. Once you've finished Ordering, an Order is Placed. That's an event. The order is now in the kitchen where it can be prepared (another activity). But the Order Placed is the event that triggered that activity.

Once you've eaten (activity), you go to Pay. Paying is an activity (cash or card, sign here, etc.), but at some point you will move from "owing" to "paid". That's an event that triggered that state.

If you Exit (an event) but are still "Owing", then the "Bouncer" activity starts as someone runs out to catch you.
 
"Making a Deposit" is not an event. The events might be "New deposit record is available", "start of deposit creation", "deposit envelope received", "new deposit record serial number ready", etc. There may be dozens of milestone events that occur in the process of "making a deposit".
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: shivajikobardan

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
18K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
9K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K