What is simulation -- specifically, the discrete-event simulation technique that is our specialty? We like to describe it as simply mimicking the logical operation of any system design. Having a simulation of the design provides a convenient platform for evaluation, improvement, optimization, validation, and demonstration of the design and its concepts.
What does it cost? You might not find this information just everywhere you look! But people arrive at simulation sometimes with drastically varying perspectives on what it should cost...or don't arrive here at all because they think it costs too much.
We've been asked to simulate everything from a single conveyor merge to a pedestrian network with millions of people walking around, so there is no one answer. Our projects fall into three categories: low cost (up to $15,000), medium ($20,000 to $40,000), and high ($50,000 and up). The high end projects typically involve either inventing whole new structures for representing system elements, or developing and maintaining a completely reusable "simulator."
Your project is likely to cost $5,000 to $40,000 for a full simulation with inputs, outputs, documentation of assumptions, validation and experimentation, analysis and reporting, animation and presentation materials, and sometimes a delivered model for you to use if that option is requested.