Senior, B A and Halpin, D W (1998) Simplified simulation system for construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124(1), pp. 72-81. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
A new scheduling system based on statistical simulation is discussed. The system, called project-integrated cyclic analysis of serial system operations (PICASSO), blends and enhances two existing techniques, namely, the critical path method (CPM) and the cyclic operations network (CYCLONE) simulation. A PICASSO project diagram consists of a circle for each modeled resource, a box for each repeated activity, and arrows connecting these elements. The elements can be cycled as many times as required; thus each repetitive activity chain needs to be depicted only once. The massiveness of CPM and similar network techniques when applied to model repetitive projects is avoided altogether. The PICASSO also enhances the quality of the scheduling information normally found in simulation. Its scheduling procedures yield resource utilization statistics and activity chain float. The forward pass procedure computes early start dates and provides data for resource utilization statistics as well as for the backward pass calculations. The latter algorithm provides float information for each activity chain. Application examples illustrate the development and implementation of the method.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | repetitive project, resource utilization, cyclone, statistics, implementation, scheduling, critical path method, construction project |
| Subjects: | production management, operations research, contractual arrangements, site logistics, mathematical modelling, climate science |
| Topics: | Time Control, Site Management, Procurement, Sustainability, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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