A Framework for Simulation Validation & Verification Method Selection

Thirty years of research on validation and verification (V\&V) has returned a plethora of methods, statistical techniques, and reported case studies. It is that abundance of methods that poses a major challenge. Because of overlap between methods and time and budget constraints, it is impossible to apply all the available methods in a single study, so a careful selection of methods has to be made. This paper builds on two assumptions: a) that both simulations and V\&V methods can be defined on the basis of different characteristics and b) that certain V\&V methods are more suitable than others for different kinds of simulations. The present study aims at identifying the specific characteristics that make a V\&V method more effective and more efficient than others, when confronting these with the simulations' different characteristics. The conclusion will advance a methodology for choosing the most appropriate method or methods for validating and/or verifying a simulation.