Background. Simulations and models mediate between actors, and between actors and reality. Researching their context of use in policy making and their interpretation by policy makers is essential, since it might lead to different requirements and considerations for a modeler and the modeling process. 

Aim. In this article, we investigate and attempt to define the demands and requirements policy makers might have from simulation models, especially in the context of decision making in complex systems. Another goal of this article is to contribute to the ongoing discussion on fidelity and validity, and their relationship with representation of systems in models.

Method. Policy makers have expert knowledge of the systems they work with, as well as considerable experience in working with analytical tools such as simulations that provide them with evidence to support their policy processes. As potential clients and users of simulations, the reflections of 18 policy makers on the use of simulations are triggered through structured, play based exploration of a systems dynamics model. The system dynamics model simulates is specific to the local context and simulates the region they work in. It is implemented within Democracy 3, a commercially available game. This model is explored through game play in a workshop. Through forms and debriefing, insights were gathered from the players’ reflections on the use of models and simulations in policy practice.

Results. Our results point to different requirements from policy makers on simulations and models. Policy makers prefer complete, open models which are flexible and facilitate exploration. Results also demonstrate the linked nature of fidelity and validity. 

In today’s urban planning, two perspectives dominate the discourse: a technical-rational perspective and a communicative rational perspective. Bridging the dichotomy between the two perspectives and situating new planning support methods within the context of complexity theories leads to new structures for planning support systems. The implications of the inherent complex nature of planning when bridging these perspectives should be taken into account for new planning processes and support systems. The development of such methods requires an iterative cycle between methodological and technological aspects of tool development. The chapter presents a technical framework that enables the development of methods integrating both perspectives. The framework derives its requirements from the integration of the two perspectives, and is evaluated in the context of two design case studies in the cities of Stockholm and Paris. The development of the framework and method has implications for the design of tools in urban planning. The tools need to reflect the open nature of the complex systems they represent and operate in. Such methods also expand the boundaries of the design space, allowing for previously unknown configurations.

Mainstream discourse in urban planning is in transition, due to shifts from a technical to a communicativeperspective, and increased scrutiny and criticism of models and simulations. The cognizance of complexityin urban systems is imposing limitations on modeling. The added benefits of today’s data and compu-tational power make simulations harder to validate and understand. Reconciling the movements towardsa communicative and exploratory approach as compared to a technical and predictive approach requiresnew methods for planning process and posits new requirements and functions for simulations. Based ondistributed simulation and gaming simulation, the paper presents a framework to support the exploration ofsimulated and realistic virtual worlds in a participatory fashion, enabling new approaches to urban planning.The development and evaluation of the framework casts simulations in a new perspective and explores thecontext of use of simulations in planning and design.

Background. Games and simulations are evaluated for serving different functions, such as learning, design, communication and collaboration. Research on the relationship between the constructs of games and their outcomes can provide insights on the design of future games, to steer towards particular outcomes.

Aim. The article aims to relate the constructs of two high fidelity, high tech and free form games to a conceptual evaluation framework, to better understand the relationships between constructs such as fidelity, validity and the functions a game is meant to serve.

Method. The games are built for designing operational procedures for city management. The games are built using the ProtoWorld framework, and simulate the cities of Rome and Haifa through the integration of simulations. The framework enables run time interaction and intervention within the simulated city, such that players can manage and design procedures for their cities through a large scale, realistic simulation system. Controllers from both cities play the games for their respective cities, and attempt to design and manage their simulated cities. As experts on the system, their reflections on the use of such tools in their planning practice and the outcomes of the game sessions are analyzed to evaluate the games and game sessions.

Results. Results point to the free form nature of the game enabling the design of tangible outcomes, which can be immediately validated and implemented in practice. The high fidelity nature of the simulation restricts facilitation, but enhances the players’ ability to comprehend complexity. The agency of the players enables their identification with the simulation, but restricts their creativity in the game. 

Simulation has been used for modeling in healthcare for many decades. Ranging from the modeling of physiological processes to group dynamics to the modeling of strategic and system-wide models of healthcare provision, simulation promises to be an effective approach to analyze healthcare operations. Effective application of simulations in healthcare operations requires that simulation deal with wide variability and unpredictability in workflow processes, the complexity of healthcare organizations and enables the participation of human experts in the modeling and operations processes. In this paper, based on requirements drawn from a participatory simulation with healthcare practitioners, we define a hybrid, composable approach to healthcare simulations. Both the participatory simulation and the composable simulation are applied in the context of the New Karolinska Solna hospital in Sweden, a highly specialized new hospital. Results point to the need to accounting for variability in workflow processes and integration with existing IT infrastructure in hospitals.