Computer simulation is the process by which a physical situation is modeled within the computer. Unlike physical models, computer models can be repeatedly executed, thus saving time and money. The natural sciences often use simulations. By simulating the natural environment, trends can be realized and knowledge can be gained about our surroundings.

The Helicoverpa moth and its environment is simulated in this project. Its life cycle consists of the following stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Its flight patterns are determined by environmental characteristics such as temperature, wind speed, etc. If the behavior of the moth can be broken down into trends, then the pests can be curbed and both money and crops can be saved.

This simulation was designed using Object-Oriented Physical Modeling (OOPM) techniques. OOPM is the application of object-oriented techniques to the process of modeling and simulation. Situations are broken down into a set of objects, each of which have attributes and methods which are either static or dynamic.

The simulation takes place on a grid. The time step is one day. The total simulation time is one year. For each day, weather conditions will be simulated. After determining the weather variables, the plant growth is simulated. Each cell is assigned a level of plant material present. The moths are simulated next. Factors such as moth diet and migration behavior are determined.

The moth environment simulation is implemented using MOOSE (Multimodeling Object-Oriented Simulation Environment). This software package facilitates a uniform approach to OOPM. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided to allow construction of the simulation class hierarchy. The simulation outputs data in a text format which is used by a Tk/Tcl program to output the daily variables in a graphical form.

The simulation and its results can be used to better understand moths and their environment. It also provided the designer with a greater knowledge and understanding of the simulation and program design process.