NAME

Sim::OPT.

SYNOPSIS

use Sim::OPT;
opt;

DESCRIPTION

Sim::OPT is an optimization and morphing program that can be used with simulation programs receiving text files as input and emitting text files as output. Some of Sim::OPT's optimization modules (Sim::OPT, Sim::OPT::Descent) pursue optimization by overlapping block coordinate descent (inexact Gauss-Seidel method). Another optimization module (Sim::OPT::Takechange) seeks for the least explored search paths when exploring new search spaces. Sim::OPT's morphing module (Sim::OPT::Morph) manipulates text files recognizing variables by position. The Sim::OPT::Parcoord3d module converts 2D parallel coordinates plots in Autolisp instructions for obtaining 3D plots as Autocad drawings.

Sim::OPT's morphing and reporting modules contain several additional functions specifically targeting the ESP-r building performance simulation platform. A working knowledge of ESP-r (http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/Programs/ESP-r.htm) is necessary to use those functionalities.

To install Sim::OPT, the command <cpanm Sim::OPT> has to be issued as a superuser. OPT can then be loaded through the command <use Sim::OPT> in a Perl repl. To ease the launch, the batch file "opt" (which can be found packed in the "optw.tar.gz" file in "examples" folder in this distribution) may be copied in a work directory and the command <opt> may be issued (not as a superuser). That command will call OPT with the settings specified in the configuration file. When launched, Sim::OPT will ask the path to that file, which must contain a suitable description of the operations to be accomplished and point to an existing simulation model.

In "optw.tar.gz" there is an example of an OPT configuration file for an ESP-r model and another one for an EnergyPlus (another building performance simulation program) model for the same building and the same morphing operations. The "$mypath" variable in the configuration file must be set to the work directory where the base model reside.

To run the morphing functions of OPT without making OPT launch the simulation program, the setting <$exeonfiles = "n";> should be specified in the configuration file. That way the commands will only be printed to a file. This can be aimed to inspect the commands that OPT would give the simulation program.

Besides an OPT configuration file, separate configuration files for propagation of constraints may be created. Those can be useful to give the morphing operations greater flexibility. Propagation of constraints can regard the geometry of a model, solar shadings, mass/flow network, controls, and generic text files descripting a simulation model.

The simulation model folders and the result files that will be created in a parametric search will be named as the base model, plus numbers and other characters naming model instances. For example, the instance produced in the first iteration for a root model named "model" in a search constituted by 3 morphing phases and 5 iteration steps each will be named "model_1-1_2-1_3-1"; and the last one "model_1-5_2-5_3-5".

The structure of block searches is described through the variable "@sweeps". Each case is listed inside square brackets. And each search subspace (block) in them is listed inside square brakets, nested in cases. For example: a sequence constituted by two brute force searches, one regarding parameters 1, 2, 3 and the other regarding parameters 1, 4, 5, 7 would be described with: @sweeps = ( [ [ 1, 2, 3 ] ] , [ [ 1, 4, 5, 7 ] ] ). And a block search with the first subspace regarding parameters 1, 2, 3 and the second regarding parameters 3, 4, 5, 6 would be described with: @sweeps = ( [ [ 1, 2, 3 ] , [ 3, 4, 5, 6 ] ] ).

The number of iterations to be taken into account for each parameter for each case is specified in the "@varinumbers" variable. To specifiy that the parameters of the last example are to be tried for three values (iterations) each, @varinumbers has to be set to ( { 1 => 3, 2 => 3, 3 => 3, 4 => 3, 5 => 3, 6 => 3 } ).

The instance number that has to considered the basic one, corresponding to the root case, is specified by the variable "@miditers". "@miditers" for the last example may be for instance set to ( { 1 => 2, 2 => 2, 3 => 2, 4 => 2, 5 => 2, 6 => 2 } ).

Where Sim::OPT may be fit for a task? Where a certain exploration is complex and/or when it is to be confronted through decomposition, by dividing a problem in overlapping subproblems; when there aren't slick tools suitable to decomposition-based, simulation-based optimization; when spending a day, or two, or three setting up a model may spare months of work.

Where it may not be suitable for the task? For quick shots at small explorations.

EXPORT

"opt".

SEE ALSO

Two annotated examples ("esp.pl" for ESP-r and "ep.pl" for EnergyPlus) can be found packed in the "optw.tar.gz" file in "examples" directory in this distribution. They constitute the available documentation. Additionally, reference to the source code may be made.

AUTHOR

Gian Luca Brunetti, <gianluca.brunetti@polimi.it>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright (C) 2008-2015 by Gian Luca Brunetti and Politecnico di Milano. This is free software. You can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2 or later.