COSC/MATH 201: Modeling & Simulation

Fall 2024

Course Resources

General	Syllabus Textbook: Our textbook (should be available in the bookstore). Example code from the book
Software and Other Resources	R: You’ll need to download and install the latest version of the R programming language to your computer. R Tutorials (these can help get you up to speed on R): R for Computational Science (recommended) Quick-R Learn R Programming An Introduction to R RStudio: An IDE that is built for working in R. AgentCubes (used for Cellular Automaton-Based Modeling and Agent-Based Modeling) Username: cosc201 Password: terriers
Calculus Review	Rate of Change: A review of derivatives Fundamental Concepts of Integral Calculus: A review of integrals
Videos	Software Disasters The Lava Lamps That Help Keep The Internet Secure How Do Lava Lamps Help with Internet Encryption?
Code Examples	error.R: Demonstrates error propagation from Module 5.2. aspirin.R: A better way to write your code (the single-dose example) in Project 2 (initializes the vector ahead of time); you can use this as a reference/template. OneCompartAspirin.R: Program #1 in Project 2 OneCompartDilantin.R: Program #2 in Project 2 unconstrainedGrowth.R: Demonstrates Module 2.2 constrainedGrowth.R: Demonstrates Module 2.3 trout.R: Demonstrates a constrained growth simulation for trout in a lake, taken from Module 2.3 SharkCompetition.R: Demonstrates Module 4.1 PredatorPrey.R: Demonstrates Module 4.2 SIR.R: Demonstrates Module 4.3 unconstrainedErrorEuler.R: Demonstrates Module 6.2 unconstrainedErrorRK2.R: Demonstrates Module 6.3 unconstrainedErrorRK4.R: Demonstrates Module 6.4 simulation_techniques.R: Practice problems for 6.2-6.4 Solutions: simulation_solutions.R Empirical modeling examples (from Module 8.3) Datasets: PontiusEM / BoxBODEM fit1.R (fitting a line) fit2.R (fitting a polynomial) fit3.R (fitting a sine wave) lcg.R: Demonstrates a linear congruential generator (LCG) from Module 9.2 monte_pi.R: Demonstrates a Monte Carlo simulation from Module 9.2 random_walk.R: Demonstrates Module 9.5 stock_market.R: Demonstrates Module 9.5
Study Guides	Study Guide 1 Study Guide 2
Projects	Project 1: Computational Toolbox - Tools of the Trade: Tutorial 1 (download this file, and place your answers in it: RCTTutorial1.R) Project 2: System Dynamics Tool: Tutorials 1 and 2 (just complete the 2 R programs, no need to answer the questions in this one) Project 3: Saving for a New Car (Unconstrained Growth) (model) Project 4: Strep Throat Simulation (model, graph) Project 5: Computational Toolbox - Tools of the Trade: Tutorial 2 Project 6: Plotting the Future - How Will the Garden Grow? (Module 7.6, Project 1) (graph, table) Project 7: Computational Toolbox - Tools of the Trade: Tutorial 3 DanWoodEM.dat Project 8: Function Tutorial

Course Schedule

Week	Date	Topics	Due
1	Aug 28th (Wednesday)	Course Introduction For next time: Read the syllabus, obtain the textbook and read Chapter 1.1, and download and install both R and RStudio.
	Aug 30th (Friday)	The R Programming Language For next time: Read the R tutorial above called “R for Computational Science” for the most revlavant ideas you will need in this course.	Read Chapter 1.1
2	Sept 2nd (Monday)	LABOR DAY - NO CLASS
	Sept 4th (Wednesday)	(Module 5.1) Computational Toolbox - Tools of the Trade: Tutorial 1 For next time: Start working on Project 1.	Read the tutorial “R for Computational Science”
	Sept 6th (Friday)	(Module 5.2) Computational Error For next time: Start reading Module 5.2.
3	Sept 9th (Monday)	(Module 5.2) Computational Error For next time: Finish reading Module 5.2. Start reading Module 1.2. Finish Project 1.	Project 1
	Sept 11th (Wednesday)	(Modules 2.1 and 2.4) System Dynamics Tool: Tutorials 1 and 2 For next time: Review Module 5.2. Start working on Project 2.	Read 5.2
	Sept 13th (Friday)	(Module 2.2) Unconstrained Growth and Decay For next time: Keep working on Project 2. Read 2.2.	Read 1.2
4	Sept 16th (Monday)	(Module 2.2) Unconstrained Growth and Decay For next time: Finish Project 2. Start working on project 3.	Project 2 Read 2.2
	Sept 18th (Wednesday)	(Module 2.3) Constrained Growth For next time: Keep working on project 3. Read 2.3.
	Sept 20th (Friday)	(Module 4.1) Competition For next time: Keep working on project 3. Read 4.1.	Read 2.3
5	Sept 23rd (Monday)	(Module 4.2) Predator-Prey Model For next time: Project 3 is due tonight. Read 4.2.	Project 3 Read 4.1
	Sept 25th (Wednesday)	(Module 4.3) Modeling the Spread of SARS - Containing Emerging Disease For next time: No new project yet. Read 4.3, and review past reading for now.	Read 4.2
	Sept 27th (Friday)	HURRICANE - NO CLASS
6	Sept 30th (Monday)	HURRICANE - NO CLASS
	Oct 2nd (Wednesday)	HURRICANE - NO CLASS
	Oct 4th (Friday)	HURRICANE - NO CLASS
7	Oct 7th (Monday)	Strep Throat Simulation For next time: Start working on Project 4. Finish reading 4.3. Start studying for Exam 1 (study guide is posted).
	Oct 9th (Wednesday)	Review for Exam 1 For next time: Keep working on Project 4, and studying for Exam 1.	Read 4.3
	Oct 11th (Friday)	Review for Exam 1 / Project 5 Introduction Keep working on Project 4, and studying for Exam 1. Project 5 is now posted as well.
8	Oct 14th (Monday)	(Module 6.2) Euler’s Method For next time: Exam 1 is next time, so make sure to review for it. Project 4 is due tonight, and Project 5 is now posted. Read 6.2.	Project 4
	Oct 16th (Wednesday)	EXAM 1
	Oct 18th (Friday)	FALL ACADEMIC HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
9	Oct 21st (Monday)	(Module 6.3) Runge-Kutta 2 Method For next time: Finish Project 5, and read 6.3.	Read 6.2
	Oct 23rd (Wednesday)	(Module 6.4) Runge-Kutta 4 Method For next time: Finish Project 5 by tonight. Read 6.4.	Project 5 Read 6.3
	Oct 25th (Friday)	(Module 7.6) Plotting the Future - How Will the Garden Grow? For next time: Start working on Project 6.	Read 6.4
10	Oct 28th (Monday)	Simulation Technique Practice Problems For next time: The solution file has been posted along with the problems. Go over all three techniques to make sure you understand how they are being computed.
	Oct 30th (Wednesday)	(Module 8.1) Computational Toolbox - Tools of the Trade: Tutorial 2 For next time: Project 7 is being posted already, but keep working on Project 6 and finish that one first.
	Nov 1st (Friday)	(Module 8.3) Empirical Models For next time: Keep working on Project 6 and Project 7.
11	Nov 4th (Monday)	(Module 9.2) Simulations For next time: Project 6 has been moved to Wednesday. Keep working on Project 7 as well.	Read 8.3
	Nov 6th (Wednesday)	(Module 9.5) Random Walk For next time: Finish Project 6 by tonoight. Keep working on Project 7.	Project 6 Read 9.2
	Nov 8th (Friday)	(Module 8.2) Function Tutorial For next time: Finish Project 7. Project 8 is now posted. Exam 2 will be on 11/20.
12	Nov 11th (Monday)	Review for Exam 2	Project 7
	Nov 13th (Wednesday)	Cellular Automaton-Based and Agent-Based Modeling
	Nov 15th (Friday)	Cellular Automaton-Based and Agent-Based Modeling
13	Nov 18th (Monday)	Cellular Automaton-Based and Agent-Based Modeling	Project 8
	Nov 20th (Wednesday)	EXAM 2
	Nov 22nd (Friday)
14	Nov 25th (Monday)	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
	Nov 27th (Wednesday)	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
	Nov 29th (Friday)	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
15	Dec 2nd (Monday)
	Dec 4th (Wednesday)
	Dec 6th (Friday)
16	Dec 10th (Tuesday)	Section A Final Exam (8:00AM - 10:30AM)
	Dec 12th (Thursday)	Section B Final Exam (8:00AM - 10:30AM)