Consideration of break in modeling of construction processes
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 1 August 2005
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes introducing how to consider the break which cyclically happens and has nothing to do with resource availabilities in modeling of a construction process through an activity‐based simulation.
Design/methodology/approach
In consideration of the variable break‐frequency and break‐duration for different activities, concepts of time‐cycle and time‐window are discussed. Then an algorithm to determine the execution of the activities facing the cyclical break is proposed, in which pre‐emption or non‐pre‐emption cases and overtime are taken into account together. This algorithm is incorporated into an activity‐based simulation so that the improved construction simulation is able to consider the cyclical break and model the construction process more reasonably. Computational analyses are presented to address the effectiveness of the improved activity‐based simulation.
Findings
The computational analyses demonstrate that the improved activity‐based simulation can consider the cyclical break in modeling a construction process, which cannot be achieved by the traditional simulation tools, especially when non‐pre‐emptive activities are concerned. It is also shown that the overtime use for the non‐pre‐emptive activities can lead to reduction of the project duration when the cyclical break is considered.
Originality/value
The proposed simulation‐based methodology is an alternative means to deal with the cyclical break that is destined for some activities and irrelevant to resource availabilities in modeling of a construction process.
Keywords
Citation
Zhang, H. and Tam, C.M. (2005), "Consideration of break in modeling of construction processes", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 373-390. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699980510608820
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited