COMP4006 /
COMP7011
Assignment 1:
Complex systems software tools
Components:
A. Report due Week 4 (1pm Mon). Use
the online submission
http://submit.itee.uq.edu.au/select.php?coursecode=COMP4006
B. Presentation in Week 5 during
Tuesday tutorial in 78-110.
Additional
sessions will be organized as required.
Rationale: The first assignment aims to develop understanding of the software tools
available to analyse and explore properties of complex systems. It involves a
detailed investigation of the strengths and weaknesses of one simulation
package and listening to presentations from other students about alternative
packages. You are encouraged to think about the concepts that can be easily
explored with the package, and those that are not well
supported. Also, think about what makes a software tool effective for analysing
or exploring complex systems.
Tasks
1. Choose a software package useful for agent-based or mathematical modelling of complex systems. Each student should choose a different package (excluding the ones used in labs). A list of possible packages is given at http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~comp4006/CxSys software and choices can be sent via email to the course coordinator of during lab sessions in weeks 1-3. Packages not listed may also be chosen - check with the lecturers.
2. Investigate your chosen package, finding out the resources that are available, and test it out. If you cannot run the software, choose a different package. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of the package against one of the packages used in the labs (eg Pajek, NetLogo) or a standard language (eg C, java).
3. Write a short report as a web page or in html format (500-1000 words, an example report for Pajek is provided here). Please note that this page _does not_ do the comparison you need to make - it's just a general guide to layout, etc. Feel free to improve! Reports from all students will be linked to the comp4006 web page. Due Week 4 via online submission. Describe the package in your own words* under the following headings:
·
Names
of package and the comparison package or language
·
Source
(company, URL, references)
·
Cost
(or if free, license conditions)
·
Link
to help files
·
What
it does (summarize the core capabilities of the software)
·
Why
its useful (summarize typical uses)
·
Limitations
or weaknesses (link to known bugs if available)
·
Sample
screen shots
·
References
- indicate all sources of material used (also state whether you generated the
screen shots, or they were images taken from a URL).
·
Comparison
of strengths and weaknesses of the two packages
·
Your
name and affiliation
* “In your own words”, means that no more than
5 words can be copied from another sentence.
4. Prepare
a 15 minute talk to describe your package (including a demonstration or sample screen
shots). Due Week 5 in the tutorial.
|
Assignment 1 (10%) Marking sheet |
|
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Question
1a. Written summary (5%) Pass/fail Content (4) ·
Name of package ·
Source (company,
URL, references) ·
Cost (or if
free, license conditions) ·
Link to help files ·
What it does
(summarise the core capabilities of the software) ·
Why its useful
(summarise typical uses) ·
Limitations or
weaknesses (link to known bugs if available) ·
Sample screen shots ? indicate all sources of
material used (state whether these are shots you generated, or images taken
from a URL). ·
Other
information as relevant ·
References (for web references is the date
retrieved included? Are URLs given?) ·
Your name and
affiliation Presentation (1) ·
Reference
format ·
Grammar ·
Spelling ·
Writing
style Total out of 5 marks Penalty for not using your own words -5
marks. |
Question 1b. Presentation (5%) Pass/fail Content (4) ·
Demo ·
Description ·
Evaluation ·
Completeness Presentation (1) ·
Clarity of
explanations ·
Supporting
material (overheads, handouts) Total out of 5 marks. |