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Resource-based modeling (RBM) is a general methodology for automating the modeling process of construction simulation. This paper substantiates the RBM concepts and develops an automated modeling system for simulating earthmoving operations (RBM-earth). Focusing on the properties involved in earthmoving operations, an atomic model library consisting of eight basic atomic models, an equipment database, miscellaneous linking structures, and the user interface have been developed in RBM-earth. While using RBM-earth to construct a simulation model, the user only needs to select required equipment and to specify project information for the operation. The information will be incorporated automatically into atomic models to generate project-specific atomic models that are then assembled into a working model for the project. The model can be directly experimented by using SLAMSYSTEM. The biggest advantage of RBM-earth is that a flexible project-specific simulation model can be generated in a very little time without requiring the user to be proficient in simulation, as required by many current modeling systems. Therefore, simulation can be made an applicable tool for construction practitioners.

A continuous model and a combined event-process discrete model are developed by employing the Slam II general purpose simulation language. The continuous model addressed the on-going progress of the construction process on a higher level; and the combined event-process discrete model describes the pipeline construction on the operational level. Resource sharing and related issues also are investigated in the two models through an actual gas line project adopted for the purpose of this research. A comparison of the two models provides insights into the modelling approaches. It is concluded that the combined event-process model is more flexible and more powerful for modelling complex construction operations than the continuous model, but at the price of requiring a better understanding of the actual operations and more detailed information.Linear Construction, Pipeline Construction, Computer Simulation, Modelling, Planning, Slam Ii, Slamsystem,