Abdel-Fattah, A (2013) Dynamic site layout planning model. PhD thesis, University of Calgary, Canada.
Abstract
The site of construction is considered a resource like any other resource in a project and, as such, has to be managed in order to have maximum benefit. The placement of temporary facilities on-site is a key site-layout planning task. In dynamic congested sites, the locations of temporary facilities are changed frequently due to very limited space. This research proposes a model to help in the planning of an efficient dynamic-site layout. The model consists of commercial software programs which have been integrated to offer a complete solution. The problems associated with the planning of a dynamic, congested construction site are analyzed and the influencing factors for site layout are illustrated. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is introduced to illustrate the model's structure, its components and the interactions among them. The UML describes the activities during the model’s implementation, where the decisions must be made, and those involved in decision making. The computer model is divided into two main sections: the first uses the special purpose simulation (Simphony) to help the planner identify the required number of temporary facilities. The second section provides the effective placement of the temporary facilities on the construction site, for which Microsoft Access maintains the information libraries for the construction site and the required temporary facilities. Fuzzy applications are developed to assess the weight parameter for the relation between the temporary facilities. The Visual Basic for Application (VBA) module is implemented to transfer construction-site information between AutoCAD, Simphony and Microsoft Access. For optimization research, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to find the near-best solution for placing the temporary facilities at site where the weight between temporary facilities is used as the fitness function. The module feature in the Microsoft access is used to implement the Genetic Algorithm which facilitates the connection between the GA and Microsoft Access libraries. The final chosen solution is shown on the AutoCAD site-layout drawing. Different scenarios can be produced to allow the planner to choose the one which adopts the most requirements. The model has a highly-usable interface, with the objectives that no special training will be required.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Ruwanpura, J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | commercial; construction site; decision making; site layout; training; optimization; simulation |
| Index terms: | influencing factor, site layout planning, modelling, interaction, implementation, planner, module, placing, construction site, drawing, site layout, genetic algorithm, placement, program, decision-making |
| Subjects: | risk assessment, profession, construction planning, work location, technical documentation, management, concrete and cementitious materials, software systems, decision analysis, contractual arrangements, analytical methods, site logistics, architectural elements, algorithms, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Site Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Human Resources, Risk Management, Procurement, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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