Seresht, N G and RazaviAlavi, S (2021) A framework to model the spread of infectious diseases on construction sites using hybrid agent-based modelling and Monte Carlo simulation. In: Scott, L and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 37th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-7 September 2021, Online Event, UK.
Abstract
The construction industry has been severely affected by COVID-19 restrictions resulting in several challenges in form of supply chain disruptions, performance loss, and limited workforce interactions. The construction industry initially needs to understand and quantify the impacts of COVID-19 on each aspect of the industry. Simulation techniques are powerful tools for this purpose, which enable modellers to run construction projects virtually and assess their performance under different circumstances, scenarios or settings. In this paper, a hybrid simulation framework is developed using agent-based modelling (ABM) and Monte Carlo simulation techniques (MCS) to evaluate the impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the performance of construction projects. The proposed simulation framework enables the construction modellers to capture the interactions between construction workers effectively and to determine the impact of restrictions on the overall project performance. It also helps practitioners in the post-COVID-19 era by testing multiple virus spread scenarios on construction sites and minimize the adverse impacts of restrictions on the project performance.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | agent-based modelling; automation; construction planning; productivity; risk; simulation |
| Index terms: | interaction, testing, construction industry, automation, construction worker, construction planning, hybrid simulation, construction project, practitioner, project performance, productivity, agent-based modelling, Monte Carlo simulation, construction site, COVID-19 |
| Subjects: | professional practice, construction planning, work location, modelling and simulation, practitioner, industry analysis, behavioral psychology, automation and robotics, production management, project management theory and practice, health risk and incident analysis, management |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, 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