Jen, H (2005) Web-based construction process simulation framework. PhD thesis, Purdue University, USA.
Abstract
Simulation is regarded as an effective tool to analyze the performance of construction processes. However, the construction industry still has comparatively low usage of simulation when compared to other industries. This low usage is often attributed to the steep learning curve required when using simulation methodologies. The sometimes high acquisition cost of simulation tool and the on-going personnel training is also potential a barrier to its use. Encouraging more simulation usage in the construction industry is a challenging task. It is important to provide a simulation application that is easy to access, easy to understand, and supports easy reuse of the simulation models that are based upon previous efforts and expertise. This research proposes a web-based construction process simulation framework in order to address the above issues. This framework intends to provide an environment whereby the simulation is universally accessible through the web and to provide user interfaces with different details that match the needs from the users with various levels of sophistication. This framework also provides a centralized model library to store simulation models of various construction operations. Those stored models form a valuable database that helps to expedite the developing of new model and/or shorten the development time. WebCYLONE, a prototypical implementation of this framework, is designed based on the CYCLONE methodology in the research to demonstrate how this framework operates. Many construction processes such as highway paving, high-rise building, bridge construction, and tunneling are linear in nature. How the variability of the constituent activities impacts the performance in those operations is of interest to researchers. This research designs a genuine parade sequence model to evaluate this variability. It is found that the variability has a negative performance impact even though the average productivity is the same among all activities in those linear operations. The parade sequence model is also used to develop the various levels of user interfaces of the simulation framework to demonstrate how this framework in general, and WebCYCLONE in particular, works.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Halpin, D W |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | personnel; bridge; high rise; highway; bridge construction; construction operations; learning; reuse; training; CYCLONE; process simulation; productivity; simulation |
| Index terms: | productivity, research design, construction operation, acquisition, database, cyclone, construction industry, implementation, variability, simulation application, user interface, process simulation, personnel, paving, bridge construction, simulation tool, high-rise building, high rise, methodology, construction process |
| Subjects: | data management, building construction, human-computer interaction, industry analysis, transportation engineering, statistical analysis, management, research methods, infrastructure engineering, modelling and simulation, construction operations, contractual arrangements, analytical methods, construction type, business, research design and methodology, climate science |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Procurement, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Human Resources, Site Management |
| 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