A framework for applying simulation in construction

Abstract

Researchers have successfully implemented system simulation concepts for the design and analysis of construction operations over the past two decades. A number of simulation environments have been created mostly following the CYCLONE methodology introduced by Halpin. The successes, however, remain limited to the academic and research environments. Construction companies have yet to demonstrate acceptance of simulation for everyday decision making. In this paper, an approach is presented that will facilitate adoption of simulation by industry. It summarizes five years of close work with a number of construction firms in developing and implementing simulation-based tools at their organizations. The paper also provides an overview of three simulation implementations for an earth moving contractor, an aggregate producer, and a general contractor. The three implementations represent different "world views" of simulation, namely (i) dynamic process interaction, (ii) continuous time-dependent, and (iii) static simulation. The successful implementation of these simulation tools was based on a common visual-object-oriented modeling environment. The successes, failures, and challenges of these implementations are also discussed.Key words: computer modeling, computer simulation, special purpose simulation.

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