Construction Planning Methodology Integrating Operations Simulation and Four Dimensional Computer Aided Design (4D-CAD)
Ming Lu, Yang Zhang and Jian-Ping Zhang
Summer Computer Simulation Conference 2007 (SCSC 2007)
San Diego, California (USA), July 15-18, 2007
Abstract
Effective and detailed planning of large-scale, complex construction projects is of great importance to fulfilling project cost and time objectives. At Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Tsinghua University of China, the construction operations simulation methodology and the four dimensional computer aided design (4D-CAD) technology have been researched for years respectively, resulting in innovative, in-house software tools for facilitating construction planning. On the other hand, intricate characteristics and function limitations of the resultant computer tools still restrict wide application of the state-of-the-art developments from research. By crossing upon two areas, we propose a construction planning methodology that integrates operations simulation with critical path method (CPM)-based 4D-CAD in order to provide a more useful tool that overcomes the shortcomings of the current ones. The trial application of the methodology on a precast viaduct construction project in Hong Kong is presented.