An intelligent simulation-based framework for automated planning of concrete construction works
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 30 March 2021
Issue publication date: 8 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes an innovative intelligent simulation-based construction planning framework that introduces a new approach to simulation-based construction planning.
Design/methodology/approach
In this approach, the authors developed an ontological inference engine as an integrated part of a constraint-based simulation system that configures the construction processes, defines activities and manages resources considering a variety of requirements and constraints during the simulation. It allows for the incorporation of the latest project information and a deep level of construction planning knowledge in the planning. The construction planning knowledge is represented by an ontology and several semantic rules. Also, the proposed framework uses the project building information model (BIM) to extract information regarding the construction product and the relations between elements. The extracted information is then converted to an ontological format to be useable by the framework.
Findings
The authors implemented the framework in a case study project and tested its usefulness and capabilities. It successfully generated the construction processes, activities and required resources based on the construction product, available resources and the planning rules. It also allowed for a variety of analyses regarding different construction strategies and resource planning. Moreover, 4D BIM models that provide a very good understanding of the construction plan can be automatically generated using the proposed framework.
Originality/value
The active integration between BIM, discrete-event simulation (DES) and ontological knowledge base and inference engine defines a new class of construction simulation with expandable applications.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research presented in this paper was enabled by the information provided by Kayson Construction Company. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Citation
Mohammadi, S., Tavakolan, M. and Zahraie, B. (2022), "An intelligent simulation-based framework for automated planning of concrete construction works", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 916-939. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2020-0971
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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