Simulation Applications in Construction Site Layout Planning

Abstract

In the planning phase of every construction project, layout of temporary facilities is a crucial task; site layout can affect safety, travel cost and time, construction productivity, and space utilization. However, site layout planning can be a complicated problem, due to the interdependency of influencing factors. Although interaction among activities is one of the major drivers of site layout planning, it has not been properly addressed in past research. In this study, simulation is presented as a promising tool to address this gap. The capability of simulation technology to model complex processes in construction projects makes use of simulation tools in site layout optimization problems effective, while existing methods are unable to perfectly model these problems, in some cases. Additionally, the advantages and challenges of implementing simulation are assessed and a generic framework for simulation application in site layout planning is proposed.

Serious game for lean layout planning: a proposal for involving company staff within the design process

“…The simulation allows investigating in detail the impact of the serious game implemented in leather manufacturing without physically changing the plant layout. However, logistic simulation, while being an excellent approach to solution validation, is time-consuming and resource-intensive (Razavialavi and AbouRizk, 2013). In terms of time, while building, validating and using a logistic simulative model may require several working days (König et al, 2011), the proposed serious game took approximately 1.…”

A Framework of Efficient Material Storage Management on Congested Construction Site

“…The related papers where divided into the elements as shown in Figure 1. [5], [7], [10], [11], [13], [20][21][22][23][24] 2) System of storage management [16], [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37], [38][39][40][41][42][43] 3) Material storage method [44][45][46][47][48][49], [50], [51] 4) The Role of Responsibility Parties [4], [5], [8], [11], [12], [23], [15], [16]…”

“…The simulations presented are reviewed as a tool to handle the construction site layout planning can be a complicated problem due to the interplay factor where the simulation technology capabilities to be a model complex processes in the construction project to optimizing site problem optimization, while the existing method cannot solve this problem perfectly in some cases [41]. The simulation model also takes aspect of complex interactions between facilities, activities and resources but simulations are the ideal tools for project site layout planning with repeat activity, tight interaction between strict activities and schedules and the limited resources.…”

“…The simulation model also takes aspect of complex interactions between facilities, activities and resources but simulations are the ideal tools for project site layout planning with repeat activity, tight interaction between strict activities and schedules and the limited resources. Otherwise, the simulation is not very beneficial [41].…”

Site Layout and Construction Plan Optimization Using an Integrated Genetic Algorithm Simulation Framework

“…The simulation-based models developed to optimize the location of facilities substantiated the superiorities of simulation over the previous methods. Modeling construction uncertainties (RazaviAlavi and AbouRizk, 2013), considering resource interactions (Alanjari et al, 2014), quantifying the impact of facility size on the projects (RazaviAlavi and AbouRizk, 2015), and providing the planners with more information (e.g., total time in system, utilization and waiting time) (Smutkupt and Wimonkasame, 2009) were also reported as the primary advantages of using simulation in this area. In some of these models, such as Alanjari et al (2014), Marasini et al (2001) and Azadivar and Wang (2000), simulation was also integrated with heuristic optimization methods to find the near-optimum solutions.…”