A hybrid simulation approach for site layout planning in construction projects
ISSN: 1471-4175
Article publication date: 9 July 2021
Issue publication date: 29 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a hybrid simulation approach for site layout and material laydown planning in construction projects considering both the project’s continuous and discrete state.
Design/methodology/approach
Efficient site layout planning (SLP) is a critical task at the early stages of the project to enhance constructability and reduce safety risks, construction duration and cost. In this paper, external and internal conditions affecting SLP gets identified. Then dynamic features of project conditions and project operations are analyzed by using a hybrid simulation approach combining continuous simulation (CS) and discrete event simulation (DES).
Findings
An efficient site layout plan regarding the project conditions results in cost efficiency. Instead of using DES or CS alone, this paper uses a hybrid simulation approach. Such a hybrid method leads to more accurate results that enable construction managers to make better decisions, such as material management variables. The proposed approach is implemented in a real construction project (i.e. earthmoving operation) to evaluate the hybrid simulation approach’s performance.
Practical implications
The proposed approach is implemented in a real construction project (i.e. earthmoving operation) to evaluate the performance of the hybrid simulation approach.
Originality/value
Although DES is used widely in construction simulation, it involves some limitations or inefficiencies. On the other hand, modeling resource interactions and capturing the construction project’s holistic nature with CS or system dynamics face some challenges. This study uses a hybrid DES and CS approach to enhance commercial construction projects’ SLP.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Hybrid Simulation in Construction”, guest edited by Farnad Nasirzadeh, Susan Howick and SangHyun Lee.
The authors would like to acknowledge the Malekan engineering group and Tecnosa R&D center for their kind collaboration.
Citation
Taghaddos, H., Heydari, M.H. and Asgari, A. (2021), "A hybrid simulation approach for site layout planning in construction projects", Construction Innovation, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 417-440. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-05-2020-0069
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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