Realistic simulations of gravitational lensing by galaxy clusters: extracting arc parameters from mock DUNE images

Aims. We present a newly developed code that allows simulations of optical observations of galaxy fields with a variety of instruments. The code incorporates gravitational lensing effects and is targeted at simulating lensing by galaxy clusters. Our goal is to create the tools required for comparing theoretical expectations with observations to better understand of how observational noise affects lensing applications such as mass estimates, studies of the internal properties of galaxy clusters and arc statistics.