• Roberts, Daniel T.
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

As the size, complexity, and expense of forest systems continues to escalate, the need for accurate planning techniques is intensified. Discrete simulation has been shown to be a powerful and practical technique for use in planning forest operations. However, discrete simulation has not found universal acceptance in forest management. This is partially due to a general lack of understanding among foresters of what discrete simulation is, and of the computer software used in constructing discrete simulation models. This study was designed to present the basic concepts of simulation and GPSS, a discrete simulation language. Emphasis has been placed on illustrating the components and concepts of GPSS as they relate to forest systems.