A new method of analysis for cyclic construction operations using systems engineering approach

[Extract from Introduction] Most construction engineering operations are cyclic and periodic processes whereby the resources used are reused continuously and the activities involved in the process are repeated continuously in a cyclic fashion. The number of activities is finite and ordered according to a specific sequence. The work task sequence is specific to the operation. Each integral task in the sequence is performed by a specific resource type such as people, machines or plants. These operations can be organised into common class called cyclic operations. Two main stream theories are widely used to model and analyse cyclic operations and they are simulation and queueing theory. In simulation, the evolution of the state of an operation is predicted by a computer program in a probabilistic time scale whereas in queueing theory, the problem is treated as a service operation after the resources are designated as servers and customers depending on their purpose of deployment. The periodic characteristics and the flow of the material or service through the system are irrelevant to the analysis in both methods. […] This thesis proposes a new method of modelling cyclic operations. It focuses on the server-customer interface which is treated as a two-phase system having specific input and output variables. A closed form equation model, which is also represented as a two-link schematic model is developed. The main emphasis of the new theory is on the periodicity of cyclic operations and the flow of material through the system. Analysis is carried out in the frequency domain using the Fourier transform. The randomness of the time parameters is treated from the "signals plus noise" viewpoint. This allows the deterministic and random components to be studied separately. However, the new theory is not presented as a superior substitute for queueing theory but will be a complementary theory when queueing theory alone is not adequate. It is expected that future research work could combine the two theories to form a new theory with strong analytical capabilities.