Modeling design interdependency and iteration for multiple two-way information exchanges in construction projects

Planning for any design phase in a construction project involves several entities such as teams, components, activities or parameters along with their corresponding information dependencies. The design process had been generally defined as the continuous exchange of information across numerous designers and stakeholders until the specifications and requirements are met. When these information exchanges occur along the feedback cycles or loops, it is termed as design iteration. In general, the information exchanges traversing within and across several design entities in any direction throughout the design phase are referred in assorted ways such as interdependent, overlaps, two-way information exchanges, bidirectional multiple linkages. In this study, these information exchanges are referred as interdependent. This interdependency and iteration occurring due to the multiple two-way information exchanges are unavoidable in any design phase. It is also a well-known fact that when these interdependencies and iterations are not planned properly, unnecessary rework, repetition, revision or redesign may occur. Hence, the objective of this study is to model these interdependencies and iterations while planning a design phase. To achieve this objective, an integrated BDM-MDM framework was proposed as a solution to capture and to evaluate the interdependency-iteration. Initially, the interdependent entities are planned to be modeled using the BDM (Beeline Diagramming Method). The BDM is an extension of the PDM (Precedence Diagramming Method) concept and is a potential technique to capture multiple information exchanges that can traverse in any direction. Subsequently, the MDM (Multiple-Domain Matrix) is utilized to represent the iteration and also to determine the sequence of execution. Here, the MDM is chosen owing to its efficiency to represent information dependencies within and across multiple entities. Then, the appropriate execution sequence is determined using Markov Chain by evaluating the blocks. The proposed problem-solution concept is applied on a four-lane highway design case through extensive data collected from twelve participating design teams. Approximately eight months of continuous interactions and discussions are done with the twelve teams for collecting the required case data. Further, the proposed concepts are illustrated also with a six-storey structural steel building design case and are finally reviewed with the design experts. This application and illustration revealed that there is huge potential for applying this concept to construction projects. For the construction firms to adopt this practice, implementation of the proposed approach to industry is discussed. A prototype tool in MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) is developed as the software implementation to automate the calculations.