Zhang, C; Zayed, T and Hammad, A (2008) Resource management of bridge deck rehabilitation: Jacques cartier bridge case study. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 134(5), pp. 311-319. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The condition and performance of bridges vary widely across North America. The large amount of expenditures on bridges needs significant efforts to optimize budget and resource allocation and to select the best rehabilitation or replacement method, which reduces project cost and duration. Simulation has been widely used in the construction area to optimize productivity and resource allocation. Current research optimizes resource combination for bridge deck rehabilitation projects using discrete event simulation. The Jacques Cartier Bridge redecking project is selected as a case study. Data related to productivity and duration of different activities were collected from the project. Probability distributions are fitted, which show the robustness of normal distribution to fit most variables. A simulation model is developed for this project in order to experiment with and perform sensitivity analysis. Based on the simulation results, an optimum resource combination of deck rehabilitation is obtained, which is [five teams, two saws, three old section trucks, and five new panel trucks] TSON 5235 with the unit (panel) cost of $747h (direct cost only). The model developed is tested against real productivity where it shows reasonable results. The present research is relevant to both researchers and practitioners. It provides bridge redecking researchers with a real case study, a simulation model, and an approach to analyze projects. It also provides practitioners with an approach to optimize the usage of their resources considering direct project cost.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bridge decks; Canada; costs; optimization; rehabilitation; resource management; simulation |
| Index terms: | project cost, sensitivity analysis, practitioner, probability distribution, rehabilitation project, Canada, duration, resource management, experiment, productivity, case study, replacement, resource allocation, discrete event simulation, direct cost |
| Subjects: | materials science, health conditions and diseases, Geography, project controls, economics, data collection methods, practitioner, environmental hazards, control systems, modelling and simulation, management, statistical analysis, resource management |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Time Control, Site Management, Geographical Context, Cost Management, Project Management, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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