If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractThis paper describes the integration of various models to provide a realistic decision support system for linear project site layout. Initially, the paper describes an investigation to determine the actual methods currently used by project managers and planners. A review of both techniques adopted by the managers and the knowledge acquisition methods employed are included in the paper. Following this, this paper describes the work done to automate the existing systems. This resulted in a system which has been used in practice and has been shown to be a great help to managers. It is based on the traditional method of mass-haul diagrams used to determine the earthworks activities. A separate simulation and artificial intelligence model of earthworks are described. This will be extended to model linear projects more realistically than does mass-haul.

No abstract

No abstract

This paper provides a methodology for pre-selecting a limited number of activities for detailed investigation using existing robotic feasibility analysis techniques, such as that proposed by Kangari & Halpin [1]. The QCF Delphi method has been employed to survey a significant portion of a company's site management, in order to determine their views on the value of specific robotic or automated systems and to discover the reasons for these views. Using this method reinforcement cage fabrication, site stock control, concrete floor finishing and HVAC installation were found to be the preferred activities for robotic development. It was also shown that service installation and all forms of finishes are presently major sources of construction delay. The method also highlighted the importance of co-ordinating site activities and of controlling the design and management process in order to successfully exploit any automated or robotic system.

No abstract