Building Models

How To Set Up Models

Here, we describe how to use SimBA to apply an existing framework and build models of malaria for malaria research and analytics.

SimBA models, developed with ramp.xds are comparatively easy to set up and use. Setup works in two phases:

• Basic Setup uses xds_setup() from ramp.xds, or one of the related setup functions to build a model and set some options;

• Advanced Setup modifies an xds model object to develop a new model with enhanced features.

---

The term model building can describe many different kinds of activities:

• primary development, starting with a pencil and paper and ending with a basic flow diagram;

• translation of a conceptual model or diagram into a mathematical model;

• basic analysis of a mathematical model;

• developing basic software and solving a mathematical model to visualize its behavior;

• modification of an existing mathematical model to develop a new mathematical model that is simpler or that has enhanced features;

• using a model to understand some aspect of malaria, done as scientific research;

• using a model to support malaria policy;

• developing frameworks for model building;

• using a framework to develop a mathematical model to accomplish some well-defined tasks.

Here, we mean the last option. We assume that a user has a defined purpose for building a model, and they want to build a model with a defined set of features.