Nasirzadeh, F; Khanzadi, M and Mir, M (2018) A hybrid simulation framework for modelling construction projects using agent-based modelling and system dynamics: An application to model construction workers' safety behavior. International Journal of Construction Management, 18(2), pp. 132-143. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The integration of system dynamics (SD) with ideas from agent-based modelling (ABM) offers potential to combine the strengths of the two methodologies. By investigation of the previous research works, it is revealed that there is a lack of a simple and applicable framework to develop a hybrid SD–ABM simulation approach. This research proposes a hybrid SD–ABM simulation framework for modelling construction projects. The dynamics of project environment arising from the complex interrelated structure of various influencing continuous factors are taken into account using SD. The complexity of the system emerges from the interactions between different agents is also accounted by ABM. The SD and ABM simulation paradigms are finally combined. To evaluate the performance of the proposed hybrid simulation framework, it is implemented in a real construction project. The safety behaviour of different working groups involved in the project is modelled using the proposed hybrid simulation framework. The influence of safety behaviour of different working groups on the project performance is finally assessed. The achieved simulation results show how the value of unsafe behaviour of different agents is varied throughout the project duration due to the interactions with other agents as well as the safety-related regulations that exist in the site.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | agent-based modelling; construction projects; hybrid simulation; modelling; system dynamics |
| Index terms: | unsafe behaviour, agent, complexity, construction project, system dynamics, methodology, integration, regulation, agent-based modelling, safety behaviour, construction worker, duration, interaction, modelling, hybrid simulation, dynamics, paradigm, project performance, investigation |
| Subjects: | financial risk, project management theory and practice, production management, research methods, education and knowledge transfer, political science, systems engineering, behavioral psychology, occupational health and safety management, project controls, organizational analysis, computing systems, practitioner, data collection methods, analytical methods, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Time Control, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Governance, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Cost Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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