Computerized decision making in construction

Methods to improve decision-making in problems related to the construction industry were introduced in the last two decades. Such methods envisioned a construction project as a collection of smaller subcomponents or activities, related to each other in a network displaying the logic between them. These methods mainly involved scheduling techniques such as Critical Path Methods (CPM) that were used as a planning tool for project control. This suited the upper level management in setting target dates and monitoring progress. However, such methods in the project planning phase lacked any interaction with the lower level of management at the project site. The methods did not consider the dynamic nature of the construction process and its complex interrelated components. Additionally, the methods were handicapped by not relating directly to site level problems in the management of the physical resources. This thesis attempts to overcome this handicap by creating an information system in the form of an integrated computer model capable of relating decision-making at both levels of project management. The starting point for this program is a previous IBM oriented Critical Path Method program developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program contained many bugs and did not handle any site level requirements. Further, the complexities at site level were not solvable by any conventional or operations research technique. Simulation however, is a method suitable for such analysis. The program took the modeling methodology CYCLONE as a starting point for its site level analysis. The developed Integrated program significantly improves the capabilities for project control and decision-making. It also provides an excellent information system that is useful in scheduling, project administration, planning, cost accounting, simulation and cost control. The capabilities are greatly enhanced through the use of GTICES (Georgia Tech Integrated Civil Engineering System). This system provides a very flexible command structure problem oriented language. It also virtually removes problem size limitations by means of its dynamic arrays, linkages, and memory reorganization capability. The Integrated program consists of 118 ICETRAN subroutines with approximately 21,000 lines, and 3,600 lines of Command Definition Language blocks. The ICETRAN subroutines are grouped into 43 load modules. Since the program is a trade secret and a proprietary to the Georgia Institute of Technology, no listing of any portion of its contents is included in this thesis. The methodologies for the Integrated program at both the upper and lower levels of management are developed. The GTICES system is briefly introduced, and typical applications for the program at both levels are given. Finally, suggestions and recommendations for future research are given and conclusions on the program performance are drawn.