Dr. Georgios Gallios, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Technology and Industrial Chemistry Laboratory General and Inorganic Chemical Technology in the School of Chemisty at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, uses ExtendSim as an aid in teaching simulation and optimization of chemical processes in postgraduate courses.

A comprehensive middle school and high school environmental education program coupled with support from the National Science Foundation created an ExtendSim model simulating the effects of rainforest deforestation and agriculture (planting pasture crops) on the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and on animals living in the rainforest. Hence, the Rainforest Carbon Cycling Model was born.

The Rainforest Carbon Cycling Model makes a tropical rain forest come alive as carbon from the air flows through it! Designed for users with no previous modeling experience, this model allows users to delve into ‘What if?’ sorts of questions about factors that limit forest production and the effects of land-use change on carbon cycling and global warming.

Rainforest Carbon Cycling Model History
Ann Russell, Terrestrial Ecosystems Ecologist at Iowa State University had a dream to develop a model of carbon cycling in a tropical rain forest using ExtendSim energy language model. Using data collected from research in a Costa Rican rainforest, Jim Dailey of Jim Dailey & Associates transformed the data into an animated, bilingual model for children and the general public and called it the Rainforest Carbon Cycling Model.

The model was distributed to 45,000 children in the Miami-Dade County school system through an outreach program organized by the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida called the Fairchild Challenge.

Fairfield Challenge Overview
Designed for students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds, the Fairchild Challenge is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's environmental education outreach program. With separate but parallel programs for different grade levels 6 to 8 and 9 to 12, the Fairchild Challenge is composed of multidisciplinary competitions aligned with Sunshine State Standards.

The annual Fairchild Challenge options are intended to appeal to students' sense of play and creativity, to encourage them to experiment with ideas, projects and skills and to empower them to seek information and voice opinions. This free program was originally open to all schools in the greater Miami area. As of January 2010, 92 middle schools and 61 high schools are actively participating in the Fairfield Challenge. Other sites are replicating the Fairchild Challenge model nationally and abroad.

	Rainforest Carbon Cycling Model
	The Fairfield Challenge

Professor Ricardo Ernst and Professor Glen Schmidt of Georgetown whet their students' appetites for Operations Management by beginning their core courses with the Benihana case study (HBS 9-673-057). Although originally written in 1972, Benihana remains one of the most popular Harvard Business School cases. The case captivates students because it brings operations to life in a familiar setting; that of a teppanyaki-style restaurant.

The Benihana simulation models an evening at Benihana's West 52nd Street restaurant. In addition to emulating customer flow patterns and dinner choices, the ExtendSim model incorporates a sensitivity analysis feature that enables the user to examine the impact of altering the restaurant's capacity, and the bar capacity.

The professors have published the paper Benihana: A New Look at an Old Classic.

Jim Harris, D.Sc. teaches a class in Statistical Quality Control in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at The George Washington University. In the Spring of 2010 class, students were asked use ExtendSim LT to develop a simulation of a manufacturing process and perform quality control processes as part of the model. There were two additional challenges for the students in using ExtendSim LT for this project:

	The curriculum at GWU offers a modeling and simulation class using Arena from Rockwell Automation, so most students are trained in the use of simulation tools.  Part of the challenge to this project is that students use a modeling tool they are not familiar with to broaden their modeling experience.
	Models must be relatively small as they may only contain up to 75 blocks.

Here are the results of this project in Jim Harris' own words:

"Although they were able to use only 75 icons in a model, they had to be creative and determine how to develop multiple models that achieved the entire process by writing data to files and reading it into a subsequent model. Most students thought this was the best part of the class. 

"I expected a lot of complaints, but received none. The project was an undefined, open-ended project in which they had three weeks to do research, learn ExtendSim, generate data, perform analysis, and write a short report about the project, etc. They presented on Monday this week. Quite impressive.

"All the students learned ExtendSim in this short period of time with little guidance from me. I pointed them to the Users Guide and explained that it was very good and they should read it.

"I was quite impressed with each model developed by the three teams of the class. One team really went overboard on details and were complemented by other classmates for their work.

"Overall the class liked ExtendSim. Each class member had exposure to Arena in a previous modeling and simulation class George Washington University teaches. (Some had more experience than others as normal.) The one observation I made was that students who I thought did not understand the material very well, really came alive as a result ot this project.

"I teach at least one class per year, at times two or three in the evenings. I plan to continue on this strategy using ExtendSim. This gives them an opportunity for exposure to other software. My selling point was that it would look very good on their resume. The class is mostly seniors and grad students.  This was an exercise of reality for them."

As part of a required course for all MBA students, pre-packaged simulation exercises explore and analyze how variability in processing times affects process performance. The ExtendSim Simulation Exercises in Process Analysis case studies are available for purchase by other universities. Each package consists of a CD that contains pre-built models so students can execute the simulation and modify certain parameters to test changes in process design. See the Academic Textbooks section for ordering details.

Series of computer simulation exercises that explore how variability in processing times affects process performance. CD contains pre-built models so students can execute the simulation and modify certain parameters to test changes in process design.

For over 9 years, students of Dr. Jacek Zabawa at Politechnika Wroclawska have made many models and projects with ExtendSim, both discrete event and continuous. In the 2008/09 academic year, students focused on:

	Simulation Modeling
		mainly discrete models but hybrid, too
	Financial Simulation Models
		external form

Students made several discrete models with Extendsim 7 using a new approach last year - utilizing the built-in database blocks. Students also tried to make comparisons between simulations in Vensim. Prof. Zabawa prepared several examples in order to clarify income and expenditure issues. Students also discussed the basis for programming in Modl on examples of blocks from Custom Blocks library.

In conjunction with his colleague, Dr. Bozena Mielczarek, they wrote a chapter about building inventory models including modeling of cost accounting in Extendsim and Arena - it will be published in one of their university scientific book (more details will be posted later).

Professor Zabawa has written a number of papers about the implementation of ExtendSim. Here are just a few samples:

	Modelling Health Management Issues With Monte Carlo Simulation Approach In Spreadsheet Dr. Bozena Mielczarek and Jacek Zabawa
		Presented in October 2007 at the XII International Conference System Modelling and Control.
	An Attempt To Comparison Of Inventory Model Implementations In Arena And Extend Environments
		Presented in October 2007 at the XII International Conference System Modelling and Control.
	Monte Carlo Simulation Model To Study The Inequalities In Access To EMS Services Dr. Bozena Mielczarek and Jacek Zabawa
		Presented in June 2007 at the 21st EUROPEAN Conference on Modelling and Simulation ECMS 2007.
	Tools Of Monte Carlo Simulation In Inventory Management Problems written with colleague Dr. Bozena Mielczarek
		Presented in June 2007 at the 21st EUROPEAN Conference on Modelling and Simulation ECMS 2007.
	An Attempt To Comparison Of Inventory Model Implementations In Arena And Extend Environments Dr. Bozena Mielczarek and Jacek Zabawa
		Reviewed and accepted for presentation in October 2007 at XII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE - SYSTEM MODELLING and CONTROL SMC 2007. Comparison of the implementation of simple models in MS Excel, Extend, and Arena.
	BullWhip Effect in Supply Chain Model
		Reviewed and accepted for presentation and publication in September 2007 at the Scientific School of Simulation of Economic Systems. In this paper written in Polish, more complex (several modules) supply chain models are presented.

For his final thesis to achieve a PhD in Construction Management, Vicente González examined buffer management in repetitive building projects. In April of 2005, Dr. González was awarded a Research Grant to use Extend for his project. In January of 2008, he co-authored "Work-In-Process Buffer Design Methodology for Scheduling Repetitive Building Projects".

Variability is one of the factors with the largest negative impact in construction projects, which can induce dynamic and unexpected conditions, unsteadying project objectives and obscuring the means to achieve them. A common practice in construction to protect production systems from variability is the use of buffers (Bf). However, current buffering practices in construction are characterized by the intuition and informality leading to poor control of variability. For overcoming these limitations, this research proposes a Bf design methodology based on Work-In-Process (WIP) for scheduling repetitive building projects at tactical and strategic levels. At tactical level, the methodology uses Simulation-Optimization (SO) models to design optimum WIP Bf sizes by different project objectives. Two home building projects implementing the methodology at this level were studied. As a result, improvements on labor productivity and project cost were obtained. At strategic level, a multiobjective model to apply the Bf design methodology was developed, demonstrating its advantages through a project scheduling example. Finally, the impacts of applying WIP Bf strategies based on Lean Production principles are addressed.

	Download final report (664 KB): "Work-In-Process Buffer Design Methodology for Scheduling Repetitive Building Projects" by Vicente González and Luis F. Alarcón
	Download Extend OR 6 model files (5.7 MB). Download the ExtendSim Demo to view these files.

Krannert professors Suresh Chand (left) and Herb Moskowitz (right) are leading a project team that uses management principles to increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery. What began as an MBA class project at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management is now applying factory management techniques to a medical clinic, ultimately improving productivity and quality. The student-faculty team’s approach to improving healthcare clinic operations is, of necessity, “multipronged.” Ultimately, the research applies the principles of engineering, management, science, and information technology to improve the delivery of healthcare to consumers.

Dr. Herb Moskowitz developed a simulation-and case-based, active-and self-learning model for understanding and applying Six Sigma principles and tools. The learning model created by Krannert consists of seven interdependent short cases focused on a specific company in the consumer electronics industry. Students study yields, cycle times, and defects to determine where improvements can be made. They use process control techniques, pareto analysis, and design of experiments.

The Integrated Project SPICOSA, funded by the EU´s Sixth Framework Programme, took off in February 2007 with the aim to develop and test a self-evolving, holistic research approach for the assessment of policy options for the sustainable management of Coastal Zone (CZ) systems. It is thus of high relevance to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and other related European policies. The initiative is based on the insight that policy has not been able to respond effectively enough to human pressures on the coastal environment. A more innovative, thorough approach is needed to treat the coastal zone as an integral functioning system (the CZ System) and to focus more on providing prognostic information to decision makers on how a CZ system might respond to sustainable technical options or management strategies.

The methodological product of the project is called the Systems Approach Framework (SAF). It is based on an adaptation of the Systems Approach that incorporates the ecological, social and economic dimensions of the coastal zones together with emerging concepts on system complexity. The SAF is designed to be readily updateable, to provide an accumulative knowledge base for wider and more complex applications, and to contribute to a growing understanding the options and actions necessary for the transition to sustainable development.

SETNet provides a platform for disseminating information, knowledge and experiences about systems approaches, specifically for ICZM students and coastal professionals in Europe. At SETNet, students involved in coastal management across the EU can find out the latest education information.

SETNet Education has been created by the SPICOSA project via Plymouth University. SETNet Education provides an overview of the latest techniques in coastal management and gives examples of how these can be applied. These are supported by a discussion forum and teaching materials for Masters and PhD students.

SETNet Professional has been created and is maintained by the SPICOSA project via Cardiff University. SETNet Professional supports the development of innovative coastal management tools, the execution of scientific research and public-private collaboration.

The SETNet site provides access to:

	Academic courses currently offered in ICZM and related subjects throughout the EU
	Teaching materials for post graduate courses
	Courses available for coastal professionals
	Professional training material
	Links to other useful coastal networks and websites
	The ENCORA fora for discussion about coastal education and training.

Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Affordability is one of several initiatives happening at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford (d.school).

This is a two-quarter, graduate-level project course called Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Affordability, where students design comprehensive solutions to challenges faced by the world’s poor. The course is hosted by the Stanford Institute of Design, and involves graduate students from all seven schools at Stanford. Multidisciplinary student teams work to create innovations that lie at the intersection of business, technology, and human values. The class is project based, and all projects are done in close partnership with a variety of local and international organizations. These organizations host student fieldwork, facilitate the design development, and implement ideas after the class ends.

The final deliverable is a product or service framed in a comprehensive implementation plan including the business model, the technical innovations, the cultural rationale, and the appropriate next steps. The course culminates in a professional presentation to the international partners and a panel of industry experts. ExtendSim has been utilized in many projects for this course.

For a Discrete Systems Simulation course, Professor Charles Winton created a collection of models in ExtendSim. Most of the models illustrate discrete system concepts that Professor Winton came up with when teaching from stock text such as Banks et al.

Prof. Winton's models illustrate constructions that represent phenomena which fit the following discrete event paradigms:

	Basic queueing models
	Priority queues, matching queues, suspending a queue
	Using resources and attributes
	Information capture
	Stability
	Random numbers and probability distributions
	Item generation

Models may be accessed from Professor Winton's web site.

Villanova University's Professor Bob Nydick published a popular textbook with case studies that is being used to teach management science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Titled "Decision Technology: Modeling, Software, and Applications", the textbook teaches how to apply three management science modules: mathematical programming with LINGO (linear, integer, and non-linear), decision analysis using Expert Choice (primarily the Analytic Hierarchy Process [AHP]), and simulation using ExtendSim (primarily discrete event).

The course packet includes a textbook bundled with a CD that contains student (limited) versions of the three commercial applications. All model files referenced in the text, as well as explanatory and computer model files relating to the homework problems, are provided. The book can be customized to deliver one, two, or all three modules as desired.

The textbook has been used at universities such as Stanford University, California; Washington University, St. Louis; The University of Tennessee, Tennessee; Fairfield University, Connecticut; and Pace University, New York among many others. To learn more, see Academic Textbooks.