tool may has merit in terms of it functionality, accuracy and ease of use depending
on the task in hand. The identification of task requirements remains the critical
factor in tool selection and use.
Now that you have completed the course,
it should be obvious that there is no easy way to categorise design tools nor
any conclusive recommendation for selecting a particular tool. Indeed, more
than one tool may be applicable to a given problem. Each
tool may has merit in terms of it functionality, accuracy and ease of use depending
on the task in hand. The identification of task requirements remains the critical
factor in tool selection and use.
In many respects the term 'design tool' is a misnomer, as most tools are used only to assess a design hypothesis rather than to arrive at a design solution.
Currently, there are myriad tools, with tool usage polarised between the single and integrated approaches. It may be expected that the latter approach will receive greater emphasis in the near future.
Because case studies illustrate the different aspects of the modelling and simulation activity, they are an ideal way to explore further the issue of tool selection and application. Good luck.