Simulare

Simulare, commonly known in English as simulation, is the act of imitating the operation of a real-world system over time. This imitation is produced by a simplified model of the system, executed in a controlled environment, often with computation, to study behavior, test scenarios, or train people. The term comes from the Latin simulare, meaning to imitate, and has cognates in many Romance languages where similar forms denote both the act of imitating and the representation itself.

In practice, simulation encompasses mathematical modeling, computer programs, or physical mock-ups. Key types include computer simulations, discrete-event simulations, continuous simulations, and agent-based models. Simulations rely on input data, assumptions, parameter estimates, and processes for validation and verification to ensure that the model behaves plausibly and that the results are credible.

Historically, early forms of simulation appeared in engineering and physics with analog devices and simplified models. The Monte Carlo method, developed in the 1940s by Stanislaw Ulam and John von Neumann and later implemented by others, popularized stochastic simulation. The rise of digital computers from the mid-20th century enabled complex, large-scale simulations, leading to concepts such as digital twins and real-time simulation in industry and science.

Applications span weather and climate modeling, aerospace and automotive design, healthcare training, finance and risk assessment, logistics, and urban planning. In research and education, simulare provides a safe, repeatable environment to explore hypotheses and optimize systems before real-world implementation.