diff --git a/OOP_D9_Project/src/backend/Simulator.java b/OOP_D9_Project/src/backend/Simulator.java
index ee2d7b6..ea48a7a 100644
--- a/OOP_D9_Project/src/backend/Simulator.java
+++ b/OOP_D9_Project/src/backend/Simulator.java
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ public class Simulator extends Thread {
 	private boolean clickActionFlag;
 	private int loopDelay = 150;
 
+	private int[][] grid;
+
 	//TODO : add missing attribute(s)
 
 	public Simulator(MyInterface mjfParam) {
@@ -39,8 +41,15 @@ public class Simulator extends Thread {
 		fieldSurviveValues = new ArrayList<Integer>();
 
 		//TODO : add missing attribute initialization
-
-
+		grid = new int[COL_NUM][LINE_NUM];
+	// we set the grid of the size of col_num and line_num
+		for (int x=0; x<COL_NUM; x++) {
+			for (int y=0; y< LINE_NUM;y++) {
+				grid[x][y]= 0; 
+			}
+		}
+// we set each cell as 0 = dead 
+		// but we still have to define that 0 = dead cell and 1 = alive cell
 		fieldSurviveValues.add(2);
 		fieldSurviveValues.add(3);
 		fieldBirthValues.add(3);
@@ -117,13 +126,25 @@ public class Simulator extends Thread {
 		 * if the cell is not alive
 		 * 		and the count is in the birth list,
 		 * 		then the cell becomes alive 	
-		 */
-		
-		
+		 */	
 		
 		
 	}
 	
+
+	public int countSurroundingValues(int x, int y, int typeToCount) {
+		int count=0;
+		for (int j= y-1; j<=y+1; j++) {
+			for (int i=x-1; i<=x+1;i++) {
+				if (grid[x][y]==typeToCount) {
+					count +=1;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return count;
+	}
+	
+	
 	/*
 	 * leave this as is
 	 */