Innovative 3D‐modelling for selecting and locating mobile cranes

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of a recently developed system for selecting and locating mobile cranes on construction sites. The proposed system provides direct help on two fronts: cost and time savings, and improved safety arrangements. The system has a number of interesting features: a relational database designed to store the cranes' geometry‐related variables and to present them using powerful graphics; a selection module supported by an algorithm designed to satisfy geometrical requirements and necessary clearances, accounting for site constraints and lift configurations; and 3D animation to facilitate the planning of crane operations. The system provides a near‐optimum selection of crane lift configurations, considering available cranes. This paper focuses mainly on case examples to demonstrate and to illustrate the use and capabilities of the developed system. Two actual cases, featuring different site constraints and lift configurations, are presented. In these cases, cranes were selected and their operations planned using the developed system. The findings of the two cases are discussed and the benefits of the proposed methodology are highlighted.

Citation

Moselhi, O., Alkass, S. and Al‐Hussein, M. (2004), "Innovative 3D‐modelling for selecting and locating mobile cranes", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 11 No. 5, pp. 373-380. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699980410558575