Using computers to help gain scientific understanding
Using computers to run calculations of complex situations and create representative models
Used in many, if not all, science fields ◦ Biology, chemistry, meteorology, geology,
physics, engineering, computer science, math, nursing, psychology
◦ Also military and commercial uses
Before computers… ◦ meteorologists solved
mathematical equations by hand to predict weather conditions
◦ This was slow and tedious This changed with the
development of electronic computers in the 1940’s
One of the first computers was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)
ENIAC used in 1950 to solve meteorological equations relatively quickly (24 hr. calculations)
Computers now solve complex equations for forecast models
P. Lynch, The origins of computer weather prediction and climate modeling, J. Comput. Phys. (2007),doi:10.1016/j.jcp.2007.02.034
Picture from http://weather.unisys.com/
Study of traffic flow using computers began in 1990’s
Used for city planning and to prepare for emergency events
Integrates statistics, physics, and psychology◦ Density of traffic, braking
mechanism, drivers’ anticipated reactions
Minkel, J. R. (2004). The Computer Minds the Commuter. Physical Review: Focus, 13. Retrieved from
http://focus.aps.org/story/v13/st26#author
Lee, H. K., Barlovic, R., Schreckenberg, M., Kim, D,. (2004) Mechanical Restriction Versus Human Overreaction Triggering Congested Traffic
States, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 238702
Picture from http://oumits.olemiss.edu/research_traffic_count.htm
1978—computers recognized as key tool for sequencing DNA
1990—Human Genome Project (HGP) began
1998—Increased computer power allowed a new method to solve genome sequence much faster
Computational study of genome sequences has led to a whole new field called bioinformatics
Pillsbury, E., A History of Genome Sequencing http://bioinfo.mbb.yale.edu/course/projects/final-4/
Danchin, A., A Rattling Good History: The Story of the Human Genome Project
http://www.normalesup.org/~adanchin/populus/hgp.html
Pictures from http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57674?currentPage=allhttp://www.kscience.co.uk/as/module2/dna_structure/DNA_files/History%20of%20DNA%20research_files/cell-to-DNA.jpg
Of gases, liquids, heat, sound, blood, stars, galaxies --anything that flows
Used in design of extraordinary array of devices◦ Aerodynamics: airplanes, cars,
sprinters, cyclists◦ Hydrodynamics: boats, racing suits◦ Earthquakes: buildings, bridges◦ Combustion: engines, power plants◦ Many others
Integrates physics, chemistry, and engineering
Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (2009) http://www.vzlu.cz/en/activities/aerodynamics-computing/computer-fluid-dynamics
What is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), ANSYS Inc.
http://www.fluent.com
NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (and others)
Computers take into account pollution, humidity, temperature gradients, energy, sources and sinks
Model changes in arctic sea ice thickness, tide height, and the ozone layer
Schmunk, R. B., Global Climate Modeling , (2009) Goddard Space Flight Institute http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/modeling/gcms.html
Pictures from: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Scientific Visualization Studio http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a001000/a001075/index.htmlhttp://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010500/a010563/index.htmlhttp://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010500/a010568/index.html
Computers used to understand the causes of and spreading of diseases and to develop methods of intervention
More people and factors can be studied with computers than by hand models
Integrating factors such as population structure, biology, age of individuals, climate, diet, and other real world situations
Diseases such as cancers, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, avian influenza, measles, Foot-and-Mouth disease, and pneumonia
Duke-Sylvester, S. M., Perencevich, E. N., Furuno, J. P., Real, L. A., Gaff, H. (2008) Advancing Epidemiological science through computational modeling: a review with novel examples. Ann. Bot. Fennici 45, 385-401 http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anz45-free/anz45-385.pdfDivision of International Epidemiology and Population Studies (DIEPS), U.S. NIH John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences http://www.fic.nih.gov/epipopstudies.htm
First used in a film called Westworld (1973)
Toy Story (1995) was the first animated film using all CGI
Animusic– Animations set to music◦ Idea began in 1982 by Wayne Lytle
Artists create the characters/ objects and control lighting while the computer automatically adds shadows and multiple views Yaeger, L. S. (2002). A Brief, Early History of Computer Graphics in Film
http://www.beanblossom.in.us/larryy/cgi.html
History, Animusic: Computer Animated Musichttp://www.animusic.com/company/history.php
What is a Computer Generated Image? (2003). The Sketch Farm http://www.sketchfarm.com/cgi_page.html
Pictures from http://www.animusic.com/news/index.phphttp://disneybooks.disney.go.com/books/1423129679.html
Model musculoskeletal movement
Predict causes of birth defects
Model tumor growth Help surgeons practice and
plan before the surgery Predict outcomes of
treatments for spinal deformities
PSRG Projects: Patient-specific biomechanical modelling for improved treatment of spinal deformity, (2009) Queensland University of
Technologyhttp://www.bee.qut.edu.au/research/themes/medicalengineering/paediatrics/projects.jsp
Guyuron, B, Ross, R. J., (1989) Computer-generated model surgery: An exacting approach to complex craniomaxillofacial disharmonies. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery 17, 101-
104
Hollmer, M. Computer Model Predicts Brain Tumor Growth And Evolution (2009) Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150666.php
Fisher, J. C., and Bodenstein, L. (2006) Computer simulation analysis of normal and abnormal development of the mammalian diaphragm. Theoretical Biology and Medical
Modelling 3, 1-17 http://www.tbiomed.com/content/3/1/9
Musculoskeletal Modeling Dynamic Simulations: Jumping (1996) Goddard Space Flight Center: Scientific Visualization Studio
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a000000/a000094/index.html
Predicting cost, time constraints, potential difficulties, and the best mode of transportation in the deployment of troops
Simulating events and circumstances for training
Modeling human behavior to improve military simulations for training
Forecasting the cost of maintaining weapons systems and aircraft
Uǧur Z. Yildirim , I. Sabuncuoǧlu , Barbaros Tansel, A simulation model for military deployment, Proceedings of the 39th conference on Winter simulation: 40 years!
The best is yet to come, December 09-12, 2007, Washington D.C.
Smith, Roger. "Military Modeling". CRC Handbook of Dynamic System Modeling. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, 2007.
Pew, Richard, and Anne Mavor. Modeling Human and Organizational Behavior: Application to Military Simulations. Washington: National Academy Press, 1998.
"Become Confident in Your Forecast of Weapon System Support Requirements". LMCI Consulting. 7-20-10 <http://logmodctr.com/forecasting/>.
"Virtual Warriors Push Envelope at 9th Annual MOVES Research Summit". Navel Postgraduate School. 7-20-10 <http://www.nps.edu/About/News/Virtual-Warriors-
Push-Envelope-at-9th-Annual-MOVES-Research-Summit-.html>.
The Society for Modeling & Simulation International http://www.scs.org/