Hajjar, D (1999) A unified modeling methodology for simulation-based planning of construction projects. PhD thesis, University of Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
Computer simulation is a proven technology and countless studies have been performed to demonstrate its applicability to the analysis of a wide range of construction operations including aggregate production, earth-moving, mining, and tunneling. The presented research describes a methodology that leads to improvements in the appeal of simulation-based tools within the construction industry and the simplification of their development process. A study was first undertaken to investigate and develop various techniques, concepts and methods of potential benefit as related to the research objective. This study resulted in the successful development and implementation of three custom simulation tools for earth-moving, aggregate production and site dewatering operations. An analysis of the success factors of these tools as well as their limitations led to the identification of a critical set of features. This set was used as the basis for the formalization of five concepts: special purpose simulation modeling, graphical modeling, integrated modeling, modular and hierarchical modeling, and the hybrid tool development and utilization approach. This set of concepts was then combined, with the help of object-oriented modeling concepts, into a unified modeling methodology. A computer system called Simphony was then developed based on the unified modeling methodology. The design and implementation of Simphony was guided by the principles of object-oriented application frameworks. Case study results showed that novice developers are able to produce new Simphony-based tools at a pace that exceeds that of a programmer using a commercial development system by a factor of six. Further results from other studies showed that the simplification factor can be as high as sixteen.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | AbouRizk, S |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction operations; earth moving; case study; simulation; construction project; developer |
| Index terms: | computer system, object-oriented modelling, computer simulation, success factor, construction project, methodology, earth moving, simulation tool, case study, aggregate, construction operation, mining, simulation modelling, simplification, commercial development, construction industry, modelling, implementation |
| Subjects: | production management, management, research methods, software systems, industry analysis, building construction, geotechnical engineering, materials science, computing systems, data collection methods, construction type, contractual arrangements, construction operations, analytical methods, health monitoring assessment and metrics, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Construction Technology, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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