Vensim
Ventana Systems' Vensim software creates in-depth analytical data for clients with a special focus on the energy, environment and infrastructure sectors. It's meant to be used in the improvement of a firm's real systems, but is flexible enough for any application that involves typical commercial, government or industrial data.
- Textual and graphical construction for models
- Model structure reproduction using subscripts
- Sensitivity analysis (Monte Carlo)
- Advanced error detection and prevention
- Available in a wide range of editions, including a free Personal Learning Edition if used for personal or academic endeavours
- Powerful and simple to use with flexible publication of models
- Plenty of data display and simulation options to choose from, including subscipting, resource allocation algorithms and causal tracing
- Excellent for firms in the scientific, environmental and social fields
- Includes dimensional consistency and reality checks
- SyntheSim technology allows continuous simulation
- Custom applications can be developed using the Venapp builder software or in common programming languages (Visual Basic, C, C++, Visual C++, Delphi, etc.)
- Lacks a built-in ability to easily pull data directly from widely used online databases, especially in the medical field
- Aesthetics look to be about 10 years behind modern software
The data provided by Vensim can be displayed in a variety of handy charts and graphs. While the interface lacks modern style, it makes up for it by being fast and responsive. Huge loads of data and complicated trend lines are no problem for Vensim. Ventana insists its software is "industrial strength" and yet usable by everyone from professionals to students. In fact, the software is available in a slew of editions which are specifically catered to clients in different fields, like academics or environmentalism. Vensim can also be used with Ventity, another program by Ventana that focuses more on advances simulations. With the two programs working together, complex functionality like modularity, collaboration and agent-based modeling, and ad-hoc data is possible. Overall, this gives subscribers hundreds of options for data organization. On their website, Ventana mentions being able to use the software for flight simulations as well as game simulations, giving credence to its versatility.