Construction Duration and Cost Simulation via Network-Program-Diagram

Abstract

This paper outlines the creation of a simulation model used to extrapolate duration and resource requirements needed for the construction of bridges based on a sampling of data obtained during a field research conducted on the construction process of a single bridge. A sampling of statistical data was taken during a field investigation to measure schedule and resource requirements (labor, raw materials and machinery) at various stages of a bridge construction project. This data was used to identify the probability distribution and the associated parameters for the project examined, and a simulation model was built to extrapolate the necessary schedule and resource requirements needed for various stages of similar bridge projects based on Three-Point Estimation Method of Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and Monte Carlo Method. This simulation model’s resultant data for every process in an applicable construction project can be aggregated to form overall project duration and resource requirement statistical distribution using the Critical Path Method (CPM). The whole construction process will be visualized by a 4-dimensional (4D) model of the project which is created by appending time and resource requirements and to the 3-dimensional (3D) model that is built using the Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Alternativa 3D technology. Based on the simulation results of every procedure’s duration and resource requirements, the Network Program Diagram and Gantt Chart can be drawn with Flex and ActionScript language. Furthermore, with the Network Program Diagram at the core, the 4D model can incorporate simulation’s resultant data with respect to total time and cost of the project to show the condition of resource requirements and the project’s progressing at any time.

Keywords

construction duration / construction cost / activity-on-node diagram / building information modeling

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg