Modeling And Simulation As A Education, Training and
Economic Development Tool
Carole Cameron Inge, Ed.D, Executive Director
Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Initiative
cinge@vt.edu
James C. Turner, Jr., Ph.D, Professor of Mathematics
Virginia Tech Professor and President & CEO i3 Tech LLC
turnerj@vt.edu
Brian Caldwell, Senior Hydrogeologist
Tetra Tech, Inc.
brian.caldwell@tetratech.com
Abstract. In 2007 the Southside Business Technology Center located in Martinsville, Virginia conducted a Market
Feasibility Study validating the rapidly growing field of Modeling and Simulation (M&S), specifically in the areas of
energy and the environment. The target location for this modeling and simulation focus was southern Virginia. M&S has
been named a critical technology by the state and federal governments, and many statewide and federal stakeholders are
involved in developing this industry, specifically in Virginia’s more affluent urban communities. In order to bridge the
gaps between urban and less affluent rural communities, our university-corporate team created the Virginia Tech Modeling
and Simulation Initiative in Halifax County, Virginia. This project is also an attempt to unify Virginia Tech expertise in
M&S. The Mission of the Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Initiative is to provide advanced modeling, simulation
and visualization technology services to business and public clients to advance their decision and support analyses of
complex problems, contribute to the creation of new M&S technologies, increase technology-based jobs, and promote
economic development in Virginia. The Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Initiative offers supercomputing
capabilities, secure data storage, and Geographic Information System interface capabilities for pre-processing,
computational stage simulation capabilities, and 3-D post-processing visualization and animation. The Virginia Tech
Modeling and Simulation Initiative represents a multi-disciplined partnership between Virginia Tech and corporate
partners involved in computer modeling, simulation, visualization, and analysis primarily focused on energy and the
environment. The Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Initiative combines academic development and research with
real-world experience. Students gain exposure to corporate project management practices through direct work with the our
corporate partners. The team utilizes M&S technology to help students become adaptable, globally educated,
technologically competent, and to prepare them to compete in the Information Age. Internships and post doctoral
opportunities are provided where area students gain valuable work experience. The program features paid internships on
projects, support with publishing their work and presenting their work nationally.
1.VIRGINIA TECH MODELING AND Technical Consulting, Inc., Glerin Business Resources,
SIMULATION INITIATIVE and Class of One.
The Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Initiative
1.1 Capabilities
(Initiative), representing a multi-disciplined partnership
between Virginia Tech and corporate partners, is a new The Initiative maintains state-of-the-art hardware
organization consisting of entities involved in the critical interfaces and software libraries, developing unique,
technology of computer modeling, simulation, project-specific software solutions. Our team offers
visualization and analysis. The Initiative provides a expertise from some of the most advanced technology
medium where academic research and development can scientists and engineers in the World (through Virginia
combine with real-world experience and needs to form a Tech and corporate partners) to solve complex problems
synergistic environment to create opportunities within with practical solutions in an efficient timeframe for
the modeling, simulation and visualization field. Unique your organization. We offer supercomputing
to this type of work is the ability to “see” elements of capabilities, secure data storage and Geographic
complex engineering and scientific problems that might Information System interface capabilities for pre-
otherwise be difficult to understand. processing, of computational stage simulation
capabilities, and 3-D post-processing visualization and
While our pubic/private partnership continues to grow,
animation. Some of the Initiative capabilities specific to
the following are our key public and private partners:
environmental modeling include:
Virginia Tech, Tetra Tech, Inc., Frontline Test Services
Corporation, NASA, VMASC, i3 Tech, LLC, Surface Water - The Initiative has the knowledge and
Environmental Ingenuity, LLC, Conservation experience to provide support for all aspects of the Total
Management Institute, Ward Burton Wildlife Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program. We
Foundation, Casenex, Northrop Grumman, Thomas understand the complex web of technical, legal,

administrative, and social issues that influence the staff have conducted cognitive research in the areas of
TMDL development process, and this understanding is synchronous and asynchronous technology education
reflected in our full range of services —water quality This includes working with educational clients on the
monitoring, data analysis and assessment, watershed and cognitive and human physical facets of using advanced
receiving water modeling, pollutant allocations and technology for instructional purposes, designing
trading options, analysis of BMP options, and research studies and analyzing the effect of video-based
development of TMDL implementation plans, as well as materials on student achievement.
facilitation and public outreach.
1.2 Projects and Applications
Groundwater - One of the cornerstone’s of the
Initiative is the capability to perform numerical A sampling of our resident modeling projects and
simulations of groundwater. Our software library is applications include:
extensive, and our computational capability is state-of-
Groundwater Modeling and Soil Risk Assessment
the-art, integrating Windows, Linux and OCX platforms.
Modeling at Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant,
The centerpiece of the Initiative is the FLEX system, a 3-
Chattanooga Tennessee – Numerical Finite Difference
dimensional visualization/immersion system
modeling of flow and the fate and transport of
manufactured by Mechdyne that seamlessly incorporates
contamination is being performed to evaluate the
direct data feeds from the industry standards ArcGIS and
remedial alternatives for groundwater, and to actively
Google Earth without format modification. The Initiative
direct on-going source soil remediation.
is also capable of direct node communication with
System X, the supercomputer at Virginia Tech.
Groundwater Modeling at Iowa Army Ammunition
Plant, Middletown Iowa – Numerical Finite Difference
Air - Our air quality staff of engineers, meteorologists,
and analytical modeling of groundwater is being
chemists, economists, and policy experts provides air
conducted in off-post areas that have the potential to
quality services for an array of clients, both domestic and
impact surface water; this modeling is also being used to
international. We have extensive experience applying air
design and execute the active remediation of the
dispersion modeling techniques to evaluate potential and
groundwater.
existing impacts from air pollutions sources. The
Initiative routinely develops and applies atmospheric
Modeling of the Equilibrium Geochemical
dispersion models for Clean Air Act permitting, risk
Relationships Between Inorganics in Soil, Sediment,
assessments, feasibility studies (FS), siting of monitoring
and Groundwater at Naval Air Station, Pensacola
equipment, and special air quality impact analyses.
Florida – Geostatistical modeling using linear
regression and correlation modeling and population
Risk Assessment - One of the Initiative’s fundamental
statistical modeling is being conducted to define areas of
capabilities is the assessment of risk posed to humans
soil and groundwater that are in equilibrium and those
and ecosystems by contaminants in the ambient
that are impacted by anthropogenic activities and require
environment. The risk assessment process utilizes
remediation.
outputs from media-specific (and inter-media)
geochemical, fate and transport, and other models which
are Initiative staples. This information is then combined 2.EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
with anthropomorphic, land use, receptor characteristic /
The Initiative capitalizes on its capabilities through
habit and toxicological data to estimate the nature and
developing applied research projects and programs both
magnitude the threat posed to exposed populations.
within the Virginia Tech system as well as local colleges
and learning institutes. The Initiative seeks collaborative
In addition to environmental media modeling, the
synergy by identifying project and program
Initiative also provides capabilities related to the
opportunities and working to bring the talent and the
following:
applied research together through marketing the
Information Technology (IT) Services – IT Services technical capabilities described above.
are an integral part of environmental modeling.
Integration of computational resources with geographic
2.1 Virginia Tech Programs
information systems (GIS) is critical, as this links the
Over time, the Initiative hopes to build graduate and post
quantifiable aspects of the environmental media with
doctoral research programs that are operated directly
spatial data. Computational platforms can then be
from the Riverstone facility. The current focus has been
streamlined to minimize pre-processing of data to
to partner on applied research projects that can benefit
maximize computing efficiency, and to directly import to
from the Initiative’s capabilities along with the strengths
any post-processing software for maximizing
of Virginia Tech researchers and programs.
visualization and analysis. Some of the key IT features
of the Initiative include: Systems Integration; Data
One such example is the Initiative’s recent partnership
Analysis and Visualization; Web Services Development;
with the Virginia Tech Locomotion Research
Database and Interface Development; Model and
Laboratory, managed by nationally-recognized vision
Interface Development; and Geographic Information
researcher Dr. Thurmon Lockhart, as well as Dr. Tonya
Systems.
Smith-Jackson, Director of the Human Factors
Engineering and Ergonomics Center at Virginia Tech.
Modeling and Simulation in the Education
This research team performs many facets of human gait
Technology, Human Factors, Cognitive Science and
research including slips and falls research to provide
Biomechanical Engineering Segments – Initiative

3.NEW TRAINING APPROACHES &
new scientific knowledge on the causes of and
prevention of accidents involving human locomotion. SIMULATION TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
The application of this research includes industrial Today the field of computer simulation is on the
safety, environmental design, rehabilitation and military threshold of a new era. Advances in mathematical
performance. The laboratory combines both human modeling, computational algorithms, computational
subject testing and computational modeling to speed, and the science and technology of data-intensive
investigate relationships between age-related computing are driving progress in engineering, science,
biomechanical, physiological, and psychological technology, and education. Whereas a decade ago many
changes and their ultimate effect on the processes of science and engineering educators were content to have
these accidents. their students view simulations as “black boxes” with no
need to learn what is inside the boxes, our increasing
The Initiative’s collaboration in this area includes an
reliance on computers makes this view less prevalent
ongoing project to create a research design for military
today, and much less prevalent in the future.
contractors interested in developing the next generation
Consequently, there is a need for more vigorous training
of night vision technology. Through the combined
in computation-based simulation.
talents of the existing Virginia locomotion and human
factors researchers and the modeling and simulation However, the challenges of meeting the growing
capabilities of the Initiative, the project team’s research demands for computationally trained students while
provides opportunities for the project client to better simultaneously adapting science and engineering
understand how soldiers can perceive visual information curricula to the rapid advances in computer technology
while moving and wearing night vision goggles on their are difficult to conquer with traditional educational
helmets. methods. The Initiative employs new formats for
training the next generation of modeling and simulation
2.2 Local Educational Planned Programs and professionals and specialists. In particular, new types of
interactive courseware, reusable simulation packages,
Projects
new learning and training environments and new
The Initiative hopes to develop additional educational
business models for educational infrastructure will be
partnerships in the upcoming years that are focused on
presented.
the Initiative acting as a resource to the local community.
Specifically, the Initiative is coordinating with area
3.1 Interactive Courseware
community colleges and advanced learning centers to
help build and develop their curriculum in the areas of Traditional courseware consists of educational material
modeling and simulation. intended as kits for teachers or trainers or as tutorials for
students, usually packaged for use with a computer.
The Initiative’s target groups include:
Traditional courseware is typically more instructionally
• than interactive. The Initiative is focusing on developing
Local Community Colleges
and promoting interactive courseware that takes a more
o Southside Virginia Community blended approach to learning through online simulation
College (SVCC) training modules that teach a particular area of
simulation based upon science and engineering.
o Danville Community College (DCC)
These specialized education modules (SEMs) combine to
• Institute for Advanced Learning and Research form online modeling and simulation education
(IALR) courseware targeted for researchers, professors, staff or
students. Each module provides comfortable learning
• Southern Virginia Higher Education Center environments, with access to databases, online resources,
utilities, and hot links to related material via the internet.
• Halifax County and City of Danville Public These modules all apply standardized terminology which
Schools is based upon the particular field of simulation it is
intended for–science or engineering. They contain a
In addition to serving as a physical community resource
series of lectures, along with examples and assigned
to these educational entities, the Initiative is working
projects. Modules are designed so that students can learn
cooperatively with these and other educational interest
through hands-on experiences with projects that bring
groups to provide partnering opportunities to seek grant
together different aspects of real-world simulation
and research opportunities to help build capabilities
development: physics/mechanics, mathematics,
among the institutions as well as their staff and students.
numerics, and software. Built-in quizzes are available to
assess a student’s progress. Step-by-step each student
The Initiative will continue to seek these and other
becomes acquainted with the specialized module.
opportunities as a key mission focus. Other
community-based educational opportunities include
To see Module 1 (shown in Figure 1) – “Introduction to
providing specialized training opportunities to special
Computational Science” in action, please visit our
interested groups such as disabled veterans and their
partner’s website:
families.
http:www.icubedtech.com

3.2 Reusable Simulation Packages
The modeling and simulation industry for many
years has focused on site- and project-specific
applications. Most simulations are monolithic,
massive undertakings intended to satisfy one
specific set of objectives without regard for
possible reuse by future efforts. This includes
lacking foresight into future endeavors within the
undertaking or by outside researchers or project
teams working on technology advancements or
add-ons. This approach has led to redundancy of
effort and inconsistency in the modeling industry in
simulation analyses.
The Initiative, through its partnership with i3 Tech
LLC, seeks to improve upon this aspect of
computation modeling through development and
Figure 1: Computational Science Learning Module
use of reusable simulation tools and techniques. To
Application
date, the Initiative’s efforts in this area have been
These modules can be used to complement in-class evaluating and using an object oriented
lectures or in support of distance education. Also, the development framework for the solution of partial
materials contained in these modules can be customized differential equations called Diffpack. Diffpack,
to fit a specific curriculum need. developed and marketed by inuTech, is an object-
oriented problem solving environment for the
numerical modeling and solution of partial
differential equations (PDEs). Since most
computational modeling makes use of PDEs, the
Initiative believes its application is boundless.
By its design, Diffpack provides a very high degree
of modeling flexibility, while still maintaining the
computational efficiency needed for the most
demanding simulation problems in science and
engineering. Due to its modular and object-
oriented design, Diffpack also grants high
efficiency with respect to human resources.
An example application of Diffpack (courtesy of
Simula Research Laboratory AS) is in an
application to the solution to a model of the
electrical activity in the human heart. The
mathematical model consists of 3 coupled PDE:
one is modeling the propagation of the electrical
signal in the heart chambers (shown in Figure 2),
the second one in the heart tissue, and the third
models the transport from the heart surface to
throughout the body. In addition to the PDEs there
is a set of 12 coupled ordinary differential
equations modeling the chemical reactions defined
locally for each node.

Figure 2: Diffpack Solution for Heart Chamber
Simulation
The Initiative hopes to utilize Diffpack to develop
custom solutions to many of the canned modeling and
simulation products for future projects.
4.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A primary function of the Initiative is to attract new
technology companies to southern Virginia that have
modeling, simulation and visualization needs and/or
provides tools to make existing technology companies
more successful. Through public and private
partnerships, the Initiative serves to promote job growth
in high-paying technology fields; thus providing a
unique economic development tool for the area.
Specifically, the Initiative creates research and
consulting opportunities locally, throughout the U.S. and
internationally by way of academic research, grants, and
contracts. The Initiative also supports the Governor’s
goal of making the Commonwealth of Virginia a
national leader in modeling, simulation and visualization
technology.