Handbook
Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence
Construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world…
Updated
Definition
Construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment.
Coverage role
Bridges systems thinking and creation by turning ideas about a system into inspectable boundaries, entities, interfaces, states, dynamics, scenarios, assumptions, and executable or analyzable models.
Scope
Included
- model purpose and fidelity
- system boundary and context
- stakeholders and operating scenarios
- entities components and roles
- interfaces flows and constraints
- states behavior and feedback
- uncertainty and parameters
- architecture synthesis
- simulation design
- calibration and model validation
Excluded and non-goals
- treating a model as the real system
- claiming prediction beyond validated scope
- hiding value choices in parameters
- using simulation to bypass required real-world tests
- selecting one formalism for every problem
- deploying safety-critical models without qualified review
Boundary rules
- Route to general.system-modeling-simulation when the requested outcome requires one or more declared capabilities and the output can be represented by its canonical artifacts.
- Route to an adjacent or specialist intelligence when domain-specific rules, tools, or professional authority dominate the problem.
- Use general.reasoning to coordinate multi-pack conflicts, hard constraints, uncertainty, and decision status.
- Return ask, defer, or escalate when required context, source authority, consent, or accountable ownership is missing.
Capability semantics
| Capability ID | Name | Semantic intent |
|---|---|---|
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.define_model_purpose_and_fidelity |
Define Model Purpose And Fidelity | State the decisions or questions the model supports, required resolution, tolerated error, excluded uses, and validation threshold. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.set_system_boundary_and_context |
Set System Boundary And Context | Identify system of interest, environment, stakeholders, external actors, interfaces, resources, and lifecycle boundary. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.model_entities_relations_and_interfaces |
Model Entities Relations And Interfaces | Represent components, agents, roles, dependencies, information, material, energy, value, and control flows. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.model_states_behavior_and_feedback |
Model States Behavior And Feedback | Represent state transitions, events, timing, feedback loops, delays, adaptation, and emergent interactions. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.synthesize_candidate_architectures |
Synthesize Candidate Architectures | Generate alternative system structures that satisfy needs and constraints while preserving traceability to the model purpose. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.represent_parameters_and_uncertainty |
Represent Parameters And Uncertainty | Define units, ranges, distributions, correlations, unknowns, calibration data, and epistemic versus aleatory uncertainty. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.design_and_run_simulations |
Design And Run Simulations | Choose scenarios, initial conditions, interventions, repetitions, seeds, outputs, and reproducibility controls. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.analyze_sensitivity_and_failure |
Analyze Sensitivity And Failure | Identify influential assumptions, thresholds, unstable regions, unreachable states, bottlenecks, and failure propagation. |
capability.general.system-modeling-simulation.validate_and_version_model |
Validate And Version Model | Compare model behavior with requirements, reference data, expert judgment, invariants, and intended use; record limitations and versions. |
Canonical artifact concepts
| Artifact type | Structural category | Semantic purpose |
|---|---|---|
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.modeling_charter |
model | Modeling Charter for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.system_context_and_boundary_model |
context_profile | System Context And Boundary Model for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A bounded context profile that separates observations, preferences, constraints, uncertainty, time scope, and next questions. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.stakeholder_and_scenario_model |
model | Stakeholder And Scenario Model for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.entity_interface_and_flow_graph |
model | Entity Interface And Flow Graph for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.state_and_behavior_model |
model | State And Behavior Model for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.feedback_and_causal_model |
model | Feedback And Causal Model for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.candidate_architecture_set |
model | Candidate Architecture Set for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.parameter_and_uncertainty_ledger |
ledger | Parameter And Uncertainty Ledger for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A controlled collection of uniquely identified entries with ownership, provenance, status, and review state. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.simulation_specification |
brief | Simulation Specification for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A bounded specification of purpose, stakeholders, requirements, constraints, assumptions, and success criteria. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.sensitivity_and_model_validation_report |
model | Sensitivity And Model Validation Report for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A purpose-bounded representation of entities, relationships, assumptions, boundaries, and evidence of adequacy. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
artifact.general.system-modeling-simulation.model_version_and_validation_record |
ledger | Model Version And Validation Record for Novel-System Modeling and Simulation Intelligence: A controlled collection of uniquely identified entries with ownership, provenance, status, and review state. It supports the pack purpose of construct explicit, purpose-bounded models of existing or not-yet-built systems, represent structure and behavior at an appropriate fidelity, and use simulation or analysis to explore consequences before real-world commitment. |
Method families and limits
| Method ID | Method | Use when | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.system_context_and_concept_of_operations |
system context and concept of operations | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.functional_and_logical_architecture |
functional and logical architecture | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.state_machines |
state machines | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.causal_loop_and_stock_flow_models |
causal-loop and stock-flow models | Use when a decision concerns intervention, mechanism, feedback, delay, confounding, or counterfactual change rather than description alone. | Do not treat association, temporal sequence, stakeholder belief, or repeated why-questions as proof of causation; use them to propose testable structures. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.discrete_event_simulation |
discrete-event simulation | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.agent_based_simulation |
agent-based simulation | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.network_and_dependency_models |
network and dependency models | Use when system behavior depends on components, states, interfaces, flows, timing, feedback, resources, or scenario conditions. | Avoid treating the model as reality, choosing fidelity without a decision purpose, or validating only against the same assumptions used to build it. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.scenario_and_design_reference_missions |
scenario and design-reference missions | Use when material uncertainty cannot be represented credibly by one forecast and a decision must remain acceptable across plausible futures. | Avoid presenting scenarios as predictions, omitting adverse but plausible futures, or choosing a preferred scenario after seeing the result. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.dimensional_analysis |
dimensional analysis | Use when formulas, models, conversions, rates, or simulation parameters must preserve physical or semantic units. | Avoid implicit unit conversion, mixing nominal and real values, treating dimensionless scales as interchangeable, or accepting numerically plausible but dimensionally invalid equations. |
method.general.system-modeling-simulation.calibration_verification_validation_and_uncertainty_quantification |
calibration verification validation and uncertainty quantification | Use when confidence depends on repeating a result, independently reimplementing it, comparing it with reference data, or estimating systematic measurement error. | Avoid calling a same-code rerun an independent replication, hiding deviations from the original conditions, or treating agreement within one dataset as general validity. |
Pack-specific invariants
The pack also inherits the core invariants in core/core_invariants.yaml.
| Invariant ID | Statement | Failure action |
|---|---|---|
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.01_every_model_states_its_purpose_intended_decisions_fidelity |
Every model states its purpose, intended decisions, fidelity, excluded uses, and validation status. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.02_system_boundary_environment_interfaces_units_time_scale_an |
System boundary, environment, interfaces, units, time scale, and version are explicit. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.03_assumptions_parameters_data_transformations_and_value_choi |
Assumptions parameters data transformations and value choices are traceable. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.04_the_model_is_never_presented_as_the_real_system_or_as_vali |
The model is never presented as the real system or as valid outside its tested domain. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.05_conservation_laws_hard_constraints_and_impossible_states_a |
Conservation laws hard constraints and impossible states are encoded or explicitly waived. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.06_simulation_runs_are_reproducible_when_deterministic_and_st |
Simulation runs are reproducible when deterministic and statistically characterized when stochastic. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.07_architecture_selection_remains_separate_from_model_validat |
Architecture selection remains separate from model validation and stakeholder acceptance. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
invariant.general.system-modeling-simulation.08_high_consequence_use_requires_independent_review_proportio |
High-consequence use requires independent review proportional to model risk. | repair_or_conditional_pass |
Dependencies and relations
Operational general intelligences: general.validation-verification
Foundation concepts: general.systems, general.causal-counterfactual, general.logical-constraint, general.probabilistic-statistical, general.temporal, general.spatial-structural, general.tool-computational
Life intelligences: None
Source roles
| Source ID | Claim roles | Runtime resolution required |
|---|---|---|
nasa.systems_modeling |
concept_definition, engineering_method, verification_and_validation | False |
nasa.systems_engineering |
concept_definition, engineering_method, verification_and_validation | False |
nasa.models_simulations |
concept_definition, engineering_method, verification_and_validation | False |
nap.science_engineering_practices |
concept_definition, research_and_evidence_practice | False |
Risk and authority boundary
Risk class: moderate
- The model influences safety-critical, medical, legal, financial, infrastructure, environmental, or public-policy decisions.
- Validation data are absent yet the model would be used for irreversible commitment or automated control.
- The system contains classified, security-sensitive, regulated, or ethically contested mechanisms.
Accountable people retain consent, value, regulated, irreversible, and residual-risk decisions. This semantic page does not claim a deployed implementation.
Maturity
semantic: S3_reviewable_definition
contract: C3_testable_contract
implementation: I0_not_included
evidence: E2_source_roles_mapped
governance: G2_controls_and_review_defined
overlay: O2_paired_seed_complete
Paired overlay
Runtime maturity
- Capabilities: 9
- Technical floor→ceiling:
I1_runtime→I1_runtime - Autonomy floor→ceiling:
A0_assisted→A0_assisted - I1_runtime count: 9
- Evidence class:
contract: 9 - Full hierarchy: MATURITY-HIERARCHY.md
Evaluation suite status
- CI status:
pass - Suite:
evaluation_suites/system-modeling-simulation.yaml - Cases defined: 7
- Capabilities under test: 9