scholarly journals Construction Site Layout Planning Using a Simulation-Based Decision Support Tool

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
SeyedReza RazaviAlavi ◽  
Simaan AbouRizk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Layout Planning ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Site Layout ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Construction Site Layout

Background: A site layout plan is one of the important decisions to be made in the planning phase of each construction project as it can significantly impact on-site transportation, construction logistics, and safety. This decision could be complicated owing to the uncertainties inherent in construction projects and the complex relationships between the influencing factors and decision variables. Methods: To improve site layout planning, this study aims to develop a simulation-based decision support tool (DST) that enables planners to consider the following: (1) construction uncertainties, (2) construction resources (i.e., material, equipment, and workers), (3) site layout constraints, and (4) mutual impacts between site layout and construction plan variables, for site layout planning of construction projects. Results: The developed DST visualizes the site layout plan within a simulation environment and provides seamless interactions between the site layout model and the simulation model. These capabilities facilitate planning construction site layout using simulation by establishing two-way information flows between the site layout and simulation components, which can further promote application of simulation in construction site layout planning. Usefulness and practicality of the proposed DST is demonstrated in site layout planning of a steel erection project. Conclusions: Using this DST can reduce some common wastes in construction projects and the cost associated with them, including on-site transportation, material handling and storage, and waiting time for the material arrival.

scholarly journals A simulation-based decision support tool for integrating site layout and construction planning of tunneling projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
SeyedReza RazaviAlavi ◽  
Simaan AbouRizk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Construction Planning ◽  
Construction Operations ◽  
Layout Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Site Layout ◽  
Boring Machines

Purpose Integrating construction and site layout planning in mechanized tunnel infrastructure projects is essential due to the mutual impacts of construction planning and site layout decisions. Simulation can incorporate site layout planning and construction planning of tunneling projects in a unified environment. However, simulation adoption by industry practitioners has remained relatively limited due to the special skills required for building and using simulation models. Therefore, this paper aims to create a simple-to-use simulation tool that supports site layout and construction operation planning of tunneling projects. This tool intends to promote the simulation application in site layout planning. Design/methodology/approach The current paper proposes simulation as a decision support tool (DST) to provide an integrated environment for modeling tunnel construction operations, site layout and capturing the mutual impacts. A special purpose simulation (SPS) tool was customized and developed for typical mechanized tunneling projects, by tunnel boring machines, to facilitate building the model and allow access to users with limited simulation knowledge. Findings The results show that the developed SPS tool is of great assistance to construction industry practitioners to analyze a variety of site layout and construction plan scenarios and make informed decisions based on its comprehensive and intuitive outputs. Originality/value The main contribution of this research is to promote simulation application in site layout planning of tunneling projects through the development of a simple-to-use tool, which has sufficient details for site layout planning and constraints. The developed DST enables planners to make decisions simultaneously on the site layout, other construction planning variables and identify the most efficient plan.

scholarly journals Simulation-Based Decision Support System to Improve Material Flow of a Textile Company

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2947
Author(s):  
Vítor Silva ◽  
Luís Pinto Ferreira ◽  
Francisco J. G. Silva ◽  
Benny Tjahjono ◽  
Paulo Ávila
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Point Of Entry ◽  
Work Area ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Positive Results

To remain competitive, companies must continuously improve the processes at hand, be they administrative, production, or logistics. The objective of the study described in this paper was to develop a decision-making tool based on a simulation model to support the production of knits and damask fabrics. The tool was used to test different control strategies for material flow, from the raw material warehouse to the finished product warehouse, and thus can also be used to evaluate the impacts of these strategies on the productivity. The data upon which the decision support tool was built were collected from five sectors of the plant: the raw material warehouse, knit production, damask production, finishing work, and the finished product warehouse. The decision support tool met the objectives of the project, with all five strategies developed showing positive results. Knit and damask production rates increased by up to 8% and 44%, respectively, and a reduction of 75% was observed in the waiting time on the point of entry to the finishing work area, compared to the company’s existing system.

scholarly journals Probabilistic Fire Risk Framework for Optimizing Construction Site Layout

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4065
Author(s):  
Rani El Meouche ◽  
Mohammed Abunemeh ◽  
Ihab Hijazi ◽  
Ahmed Mebarki ◽  
Fadi Fatayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Risk ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Layout Planning ◽  
Fire Hazards ◽  
Site Layout ◽  
Planning Models ◽  
Risk Framework ◽  
Construction Site Layout

Purpose: This paper aims to develop an efficient model able to reduce catastrophic consequences and the significant number of victims resulting from fires at construction sites. The paper proposes probabilistic modeling aimed to minimize the probability of failure of a construction site. Methodology: The developed model in this paper consists of modeling fire hazards, the vulnerability of the potential targets, and the risk within construction sites. The optimization algorithm called “differential evolution” is used in order to determine the optimal site layout, which is characterized by having the smallest overall probability of failure. A numerical simulation is performed to delineate an appropriate probability density function of the failure of the site. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) is used to display the spatial variability of fire risk on a construction site. Findings: The paper provides an efficient model to enhance site layout planning and assign locations for supporting temporary facilities at appropriate positions within a construction site. The model is examined through applying it on a simple case study containing numerous facilities. All these facilities are considered vulnerable targets and some of them are potential fire hazards, with different intensity values. Value: Most of the previous research focuses on travel cost distance in developing site layout planning models. This paper fulfills the development of a valuable model able to generate an optimized construction site layout by minimizing the probability of failure of the whole site. It will assist the decision makers and the risk managers in identifying the riskiest zones on a construction site.

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