Special Purpose Simulation (SPS) is a proven principle that can lead to the effective transfer of simulation knowledge to the construction industry. Three separate industry experiments have led to the identification of a set of requirements that construction SPS tools should adhere to in order to be successful. This set of requirements> was .then used in the implementation of a computer system called Simphony. The system greatly simplifies the SPS tool development process and standardizes the simulation, modeling, analysis and integration features of such tools. The result is a complete environment that tailors to the needs of both novice and advanced simulation tool developers and users.

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This paper disettsses the process of building a special purpose simulation environment. By making the environment specific for a given industry many advantages are gained including wider acceptance and use in practical settings. Special purpose simulation tools help bring simulation to the desks of construction engineers who have little or no experience with simulation theory. By isolating the user from the low level constructs and presenting a modeling interface that more closely represents the actual system, the overall environment becomes more effective. Also, through specialization, the simulation reports can be created in the standard format that engineers in the intended domain are accustomed to. Various reports can be made to include varying levels of information summarized in a manner that can be used directly for estimating and bidding purposes.This paper shares some of the design and implementation issues used when building special purpose simulation tools.