Semantic Search for System Dynamics Models Using Vector Embeddings in a Cloud Microservices Environment

Efficient retrieval of mathematical and structural similarities in System Dynamics models remains a significant challenge for traditional lexical systems, which often fail to capture the contextual dependencies of simulation processes. This paper presents an architectural approach and implementation of a semantic search module integrated into an existing cloud-based modeling and simulation system. The proposed method employs a strategy for serializing graph structures into textual descriptions, followed by the generation of vector embeddings via local ONNX inference and indexing within a vector database (Qdrant). Experimental validation performed on a diverse corpus of complex dynamic models, compares the proposed approach against traditional information retrieval methods (Full-Text Search, Keyword Search in PostgreSQL, and Apache Lucene with Standard and BM25 scoring). The results demonstrate the distinct advantage of semantic search, achieving high precision (over 90%) within the scope of the evaluated corpus and effectively eliminating information noise. In comparison, keyword search exhibited only 24.8% precision with a significant rate of false positives, while standard full-text analysis failed to identify relevant models for complex conceptual queries (0 results). Despite a recorded increase in latency (~2 s), the study proves that the vector-based approach is a significantly more robust solution for detecting hidden semantic connections in mathematical model databases, providing a foundation for future developments toward multi-vector indexing strategies.