Bansal, V K and Pal, M (2011) Construction projects scheduling using GIS tools. International Journal of Construction Management, 11(1), pp. 1-18. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Commercially available scheduling tools such as Primavera and Microsoft Project provide a construction execution schedule, but activities in such schedule have no direct link with the corresponding components in 2D or 3D drawings. Hence, researchers suggest the use of Four Dimensional (4D) modelling or Building Information Modelling (BIM) to create the graphical simulation of the construction process by linking the execution schedule with the 3D model of the facility to be developed. Although 4D modelling and BIM tools allow planners to generate a graphical simulation of the execution sequence, they lack features like: generation and updating of schedules, 3D components editing, topography modelling and geospatial analyses within a single platform which is now a requirement of the construction industry. Programmes in GIS environment for Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling and linking its activities with the corresponding components of a 3D model have been developed. The dynamic linkage between the activities of a schedule and corresponding 3D components in GIS has been established. This link makes it possible to detect incompleteness and logical errors in a project schedule. GIS allows planners to understand a schedule quickly by viewing its buildability on a computer screen. The database management capabilities of GIS have also been utilised to maintain and update the construction resource database (like material type and quantity, labour requirements, safety and quality control recommendations, etc.) to facilitate construction project planning. Such non-spatial information corresponding to various activities may be extracted from the database and linked with respective activities in a schedule developed in GIS.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 4D computer-aided design; construction scheduling; critical path method; geographic information system |
| Index terms: | geographic information system, labour requirement, construction industry, quality control, modelling, planner, editing, linkage, 3D model, database, building information modelling, platform, construction scheduling, geospatial analysis, critical path method, construction project, construction process, computer aided design, 4D modelling, drawing, topography, programme, scheduling, buildability |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, project delivery, operations research, technical documentation, research dissemination and communication, computational design, profession, business, design efficiency, industry analysis, information systems, geographical techniques and analysis, project controls, data management, building construction, production management, digital design, physical geography and landforms, management, spatial and geospatial analysis |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Site Management, Time Control, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here