SimulationOptions

There are several methods of using OpenMalaria, aside from the stand-alone program described in the User Guide.

Interfaces to databases of OpenMalaria simulation results

• the SPECTRUM suite of policy models contains (from 2017 on) a module for simulating malaria interventions based on analysis of predictions made by OpenMalaria. The approach used is described here.

• the Malaria Vaccine Model (MVM) of the Malaria Vaccine Initiative includes a proprietary interface to the results of a large set of OpenMalaria simulations of malaria vaccines with different characteristics.

Graphical User Interfaces for running OpenMalaria

GUI-driven simulation designer and job submission systems, capable of deploying simulations to different computer resources are at varying stages of development. These may require login credentials.

• the OpenMalaria Portal (on the Vector-Borne Disease Network (VecNet) website) includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for running OpenMalaria.

• OpenMalariaTools provides a GUI for running OpenMalaria in a Windows or Linux environment. However this is not being maintained and we cannot guarantee that it will work. This includes facilities for updating configuration files and running small simulation experiments comprising multiple scenarios. The UtilsRunning page explains how to continue once you have installed OpenMalaria and to test small numbers of scenarios via the GUI.

Simulation Experiments

Usually, users will need to run many distinct simulations to compare the effects of changes in model structure or Parameters, and hence to run simulation experiments comprising many scenarios. The following tools are available to facilitate this:

• An experiment creator tool is designed to produce a full set of XML files for an experiment from a set of sweeps (factors) each with one or more arms (values). more ...

• Large numbers of simulations can be run on computer clusters or via the BOINC volunteer computing platform http://www.malariacontrol.net/, using a semi-automated experiment design and analysis platform, capable of handling entire experiments of 10000-100000 scenarios. If you would like to help the project by offering down-time on your computer to run simulations, join us at malariacontrol.net.

• We can, upon request, create packages with binaries of the OpenMalaria simulator and a few examples for win32/OS X/linux 32/64-bit platforms. Mac users are invited to follow the build instructions for their operating system. Please ask us for more information if none of the links above provide what you need.

Contributing to OpenMalaria development

• If you want to join the development effort, you can find more information here.
• To build the OpenMalaria executable from source, go here

Resources

• The XML snippet library provides standard ways of specifying different interventions or settings for simulation.
• Monitoring measures
• A scenario updater tool, SchemaTranslator, is integrated into OpenMalariaTools and used automatically when running old scenario files. more ...

Schema (XSD) files are also available. Files with names like scenario_32.xsd are the complete schema for some version while files like scenario.xsd, demography.xsd contain the latest version in multiple parts.

• Schema v30
• Schema v32
• Schema latest code (development version)

Troubleshooting

Still have problems? We want to know! Send us an e-mail, or, better yet open an issue. However you contact us, please include a copy of the error message that is generated.