Aims and scope

Journal of Simulation (JOS) aims to publish both articles and technical notes from researchers and practitioners active in the field of simulation. In JOS, the field of simulation includes the techniques, tools, methods and technologies of the application and the use of discrete-event simulation, agent-based modelling and system dynamics. We are also interested in models that are hybrids of these approaches. JOS encourages theoretical papers that span the breadth of the simulation process, including both modelling and analysis methodologies, as well as practical papers from a wide range of simulation applications in domains including, manufacturing, service, defence, health care and general commerce. JOS will particularly seek topics that are not "mainstream" in nature but interesting and evocative to the simulation community as outlined above.

Particular interest is paid to significant success in the use of simulation. JOS will publish the methodological and technological advances that represent significant progress toward the application of simulation modelling-related theory and/or practice.

Other streams of interest will be practical applications that highlight insights into the contemporary practice of simulation modelling; articles that are tutorial in nature or that largely review existing literature as a contribution to the field, and articles based on empirical research such as questionnaire surveys, controlled experiments or more qualitative case studies.

Shorter technical notes will also be considered.

Special Issue on Simulation Research in Africa
Submission Date: 2025-04-30

Special Issue Editor(s)

M’hammed Sahnoun, CESI LINEACT, France
msahnoun@cesi.fr

Mohamed Tarek Khadir, University of Badji Mokhtar Annaba, Algeria
khadir@labged.net

Ali Wagdy Mohamed, Cairo University, Egypt
aliwagdy@gmail.com

Mamadou Kaba Traore, University of Bordeaux, France
mamadou-kaba.traore@u-bordeaux.fr

Saikou Y. Diallo, Old Dominion University, USA
sdiallo@odu.edu

Nav Mustafee, University of Exeter Business School, UK
n.mustafee@exeter.ac.uk

Overview of Special Issue:

This call for papers invites submissions for a special issue of the Journal of Simulation focused on modelling and simulation (M&S) research conducted in or related to the African region. There are several examples of recent M&S studies focusing on Africa, e.g., Carnohan et al. (2021) and Giliomee et al. (2023). Many examples of international M&S collaborations with authors affiliated with African institutions also exist (e.g., Samuel et al., 2020; Allal et al., 2021; Bouziane et al., 2021). The special issue will present a collection of research and practitioner papers relevant to the African context that are carried out by African teams, including their international collaborators.

Papers are sought that advance simulation theory, methodology, and practice within the unique contexts, challenges, and opportunities of the African region across diverse domains, including but not limited to agriculture, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, policy modelling, supply chain, transportation, and more.

Studies can focus on conceptual modelling, model formalisms, validation and verification, scenario development and experimentation. Empirical studies must employ a simulation approach. Thus, studies using discrete-event simulation (DES), system dynamics (SD), agent-based simulation (ABS), and hybrid simulation (HS) are within the scope of the special issue. We also welcome studies on hybrid modelling (Mustafee et al., 2018) combining computer simulation (DES, ABS, SD, HS) with analytical models, machine learning models or other modelling approaches. The editors are happy to respond to queries on the fit of a prospective article for the special issue.

The Simulation Research in Africa special issue thus provides an outlet to communicate the value simulation brings to solving African problems and improving African systems, as well as the high-quality research underway by African simulation scholars. It seeks to catalyse further growth of simulation expertise in Africa and build international awareness of this emerging community.

Subjects covered:

    Literature reviews on simulation research in Africa
    Simulation studies based in Africa and which focus on African systems/problems
    Studies using real African data sets, case studies, or models validated in an African context
    Simulation education, adoption, and capacity-building initiatives in Africa
    Progress and challenges for simulation research in Africa
    International collaborations doing simulation research relevant to Africa
    Critical reviews or comparative studies of simulation applications in Africa
    Other original simulation research conducted in Africa or by African teams
    Invited papers, e.g., viewpoints, from authors with experience in simulation research in Africa
    Practitioner papers on applied research in the African context

Further Information:

    The Special Issue is part of the JOS Africa Focus initiative, which will run from 2024 to 2026. The initiative aims to increase the volume of M&S research in Africa and establish JOS as a top conduit of research papers from authors affiliated with African institutions.
    As part of the development of the special issue, a paper development workshop is being organised on the sidelines of the AFROS 2024 conference, Tlemcen, Algeria (3-5 November 2024). Please email the lead Guest Editor M’hammed Sahnoun for further details (msahnoun@cesi.fr). Attendance at the workshop is not necessary and authors can choose to submit their original research
    For papers that receive the decision of “R&R/Major revision”, JOS has made provision for the shepherding of papers by a team of academics who have volunteered their time. The team includes Associate Editors who are members of the JOS Africa Focus group. Please email Nav Mustafee for further information (n.mustafee@exeter.ac.uk).
    The Simulation Research in Africa special issue thus provides an outlet to communicate the value simulation brings to solving African problems and improving African systems, as well as the high-quality research underway by African simulation scholars. It seeks to catalyse further growth of simulation expertise in Africa and build international awareness of this emerging community.

For more information on the JOS Africa Focus initiative, please email Nav Mustafee.

References:

Allal, A., Sahnoun, M. H., Adjoudj, R., Benslimane, S. M., & Mazar, M. (2021). Multi-agent based simulation-optimisation of maintenance routing in offshore wind farms. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 157, 107342.

Bouziane, S. E., Khadir, M. T., & Dugdale, J. (2021). A collaborative predictive multi-agent system for forecasting carbon emissions related to energy consumption. Multiagent and Grid Systems, 17(1), 39-58.

Carnohan, S. A., Clifford-Holmes, J. K., Retief, H., McKnight, U. S., & Pollard, S. (2021). Climate change adaptation in rural South Africa: Using stakeholder narratives to build system dynamics models in data-scarce environments. Journal of Simulation, 15(1-2), 5-22.

Giliomee, J. H., Hull, C., Collett, K. A., McCulloch, M., & Booysen, M. J. (2023). Simulating mobility to plan for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa’s paratransit. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 118, 103728.

Mustafee, N., & Powell, J. H. (2018). From hybrid simulation to hybrid systems modelling. In Proceedings of the 2018 Winter Simulation Conference, pp. 1430-1439. IEEE.

Samuel, K. G., Bouare, N. D. M., Maïga, O., & Traoré, M. K. (2020). A DEVS-based pivotal modeling formalism and its verification and validation framework. Simulation: Transactions of the SCS, 96(12), 969-992.