A computer-implemented method of simulating automation applications based on input from a user includes a computer creating a system design in a three-dimensional workspace based on one or more instructions provided by the user. The system design comprises a sensor component representative of a physical sensor controlled by a physical controller, and one or more detectable components representative of objects detectable by the physical sensor. The computer assigns a tag value to each of the one or more detectable components and executes a simulation of the system design in response to a command from the user. The sensor component simulates detection of the one or more detectable components using the tag value assigned to each respective detectable component.