Web-Based|Online Simulation

Web-based simulation, also called online simulation, allows accessing simulations via web links and immediately running them in a web browser, without any prior installation of software. This makes simulations easily available anywhere for anyone.

There are different approaches in web-based simulation. Byrne et al (2010) have identified three main web-based simulation architectures depending where the simulation engine and visualization components are executed:

• Local: both components are executed locally in the web browser of the client computer. This architecture requires no communication between the client and server after the initial loading phase; however, the simulation execution relies on the client computer's processing power.
• Remote: both components are executed in the server, while the client computer (i.e., the web browser) works as an interface to submit simulation jobs and display simulation results. This architecture allows to execute large simulations from less powerful client computers, but it prevents the observation of dynamic processes and the interaction with the running simulation in real-time.
• Hybrid: the simulation engine is executed in the server, while the visualization components are executed in the web browser of the client computer. This architecture combines the best features of the Local and Remote architectures, but it demands a high volume of data exchange between the client and server.

Examples of web-based simulation tools are AnyLogic Cloud, Insight Maker, NetLogo Web, OESjs and SimScript.