Purpose
Who We Are
The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center is a not-for-profit, collaborative enterprise center of Old Dominion University. We partner with industry, government, military, and academia to focus on six core Modeling and Simulation (M&S) capabilities. These core capabilities are:
- Military M&S (primarily combat simulations)
- Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
- Medical Simulations
- Transportation
- Serious Gaming
- Enterprise Executable Architectures
Our research interests and capabilities include:
- simulation methodologies
- mathematical modeling
- verification and validation
- distributed simulation
- computer visualization
- immersive virtual environments
- human-machine interfaces
- human factors
- performance analysis
- intelligent systems
- decision support and collaboration methodologies
- modeling and simulation systems integration
Vision
Our vision is to be a global leader in modeling and simulation (M&S) research and development and an integrator of M&S with visualization technologies. VMASC will be a portal for the nation's premier M&S educational programs.
Mission
The Commonwealth of Virginia tasks VMASC with a fourfold mission:
- Engage in collaborative research and development in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and in Visualization
- Develop the M&S workforce through education
- Provide M&S technical expertise to government and industry
- Stimulate technology-related economic development in Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia
What We Do
VMASC creates computer simulations and conducts programs analysis to meet our customers' needs. We work closely with member companies to plan and execute complex M&S tasks. Computer simulations provide the capability to:
- quickly and economically test theories and ideas
- help visualize and understand complex situations
- prioritize labor and capital investment opportunities
- reduce the risk inherent in business decisions
The economic development activities of VMASC are directed at expanding the application of modeling and simulation. We are especially cognizant of opportunities to transfer modeling and simulation technology and know-how between the military and commercial sectors. Our primary approach has been to:
- conduct technology demonstration projects;
- identify an application partner (a commercial company with a simulation requirement);
- define a demonstration project;
- organize a project team consisting of VMASC faculty and students;
- invite a technology partner (a VMASC member company whose capabilities best match the project requirements) to participate on the project team.
Great care is taken to ensure the project exhibits the potential to expand in some way the current state-of-the-art in the application of modeling and simulation. In addition, VMASC never attempts to repeat identical projects to avoid any appearance of competing with its member companies.