Title: MANET Simulation Studies: The Incredibles
Dr. Tracy Camp, Dept. Computer Science, Colorado School of Mines
Date: February 18, 2011
Time: 10:20 am
Room: 1279 Anthony Hall
Abstract:
Simulation is the research tool of choice for a majority of the mobile ad hoc network (MANET) community; however, while the use of simulation has increased, the credibility of the simulation results has decreased. To determine the state of MANET simulation studies, we surveyed the proceedings of a top conference in the MANET area: the ACM International Symposium on Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing (MobiHoc). From our survey, we found significant shortfalls. Choosing an appropriate simulation scenario to study the performance of a MANET routing protocol is an important process. For example, routing will not be properly evaluated when a simulation scenario with a low average hop count or a large degree of network partitioning is used. In this talk, I will (1) present the results of our MobiHoc survey, (2) summarize common simulation study pitfalls found in our survey, and (3) discuss tools that we have created to aid the development of more rigorous simulation studies. While this work focuses on the MANET field, the takeaway message in regards to credible simulation is applicable to other computing fields. Lastly, I will briefly highlight past successes, current research challenges, and future directions of my research group.
Biography:
Tracy Camp completed two years of graduate work at Michigan State University (M.S. 1989), before moving to the College of William and Mary for her Ph.D. She is currently a Full Professor of computer science at the Colorado School of Mines. She is the Founder and Director of the Toilers (http://toilers.mines.edu), an active ad hoc networks research group. Dr. Camp has received 19 grants from the National Science Foundation, including a prestigious NSF CAREER award. This funding has produced 12 software packages that have been requested from (and shared with) more than 2000 researchers in 73 countries. Dr. Camp is currently an ACM Distinguished Lecturer, an IEEE Senior Member, and an ACM Distinguished Scientist. Dr. Camp is involved in both ACM-W and CRA-W (where she co-chairs CRA-W's Distributed REU program), and she was honored to be the General Chair of the 2010 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.