monaco 0.3.0

Quantify uncertainty and sensitivities in your computer models with an industry-grade Monte-Carlo framework.

Quantify uncertainty and sensitivities in your computer models with an industry-grade Monte-Carlo framework.

Overview

At the heart of all serious forecasting, whether that be of elections, the spread of pandemics, weather, or the path of a rocket on its way to Mars, is a statistical tool known as the Monte-Carlo method. The Monte-Carlo method, named for the rolling of the dice at the famous Monte Carlo casino located in Monaco, allows you to quantify uncertainty by introducing randomness to otherwise deterministic processes, and seeing what the range of results is.

monaco is a python library for analyzing uncertainties and sensitivities in your computational models by setting up, running, and analyzing a Monte-Carlo simulation wrapped around that model. Users can define random input variables drawn using chosen sampling methods from any of SciPy's continuous or discrete distributions (including custom distributions), preprocess and structure that data as needed to feed to their main simulation, run that simulation in parallel anywhere from 1 to millions of times, and postprocess the simulation outputs to obtain meaningful, statistically significant conclusions. Plotting and statistical functions specific to use cases that might be encountered are provided, and repeatability of results is ensured through careful management of random seeds.

Quick Start

First, install monaco:

pip install monaco

Then, copy the two files from the template directory, which contains a simple, well commented Monte Carlo simulation of flipping coins. That link also contains some exercises for you to do, to help you familiarize yourself with how monaco is structured.

After working through the template exercises, check out the other examples for inspiration and more in-depth usage of monaco's features.

Documentation / API Reference

Documentation is being built up - read the docs here: https://monaco.readthedocs.io

Currently there is a complete API reference, more detailed installation, test, and publishing instructions, an overview of the basic architecture and basic workflow, and some details on statistical distributions and sampling methods.

License / Citation

Copyright 2020-2021 Scott Shambaugh, distributed under the GPLv3.0 (or later) license.
If you use monaco to do research that gets published, please cite the monaco github page.

Further Reading

• Hanson, J. M., and B. B. Beard. "Applying Monte Carlo simulation to launch vehicle design and requirements analysis." National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center, 1 September 2010.
• Razavi, S. et. al. "The future of sensitivity analysis: an essential discipline for systems modeling and policy support." Environmental Modelling & Software Volume 137, March 2021.
• Satelli, A. et. al. "Why so many published sensitivity analyses are false: A systematic review of sensitivity analysis practices." Environmental Modelling & Software Volume 114, April 2019.