A unified modeling methodology for simulation-based planning of construction projects

Computer simulation is a proven technology and countless studies have been performed to demonstrate its applicability to the analysis of a wide range of construction operations including aggregate production, earth-moving, mining, and tunneling. The presented research describes a methodology that leads to improvements in the appeal of simulation-based tools within the construction industry and the simplification of their development process. A study was first undertaken to investigate and develop various techniques, concepts and methods of potential benefit as related to the research objective. This study resulted in the successful development and implementation of three custom simulation tools for earth-moving, aggregate production and site dewatering operations. An analysis of the success factors of these tools as well as their limitations led to the identification of a critical set of features. This set was used as the basis for the formalization of five concepts: special purpose simulation modeling, graphical modeling, integrated modeling, modular and hierarchical modeling, and the hybrid tool development and utilization approach. This set of concepts was then combined, with the help of object-oriented modeling concepts, into a unified modeling methodology. A computer system called Simphony was then developed based on the unified modeling methodology. The design and implementation of Simphony was guided by the principles of object-oriented application frameworks. Case study results showed that novice developers are able to produce new Simphony-based tools at a pace that exceeds that of a programmer using a commercial development system by a factor of six. Further results from other studies showed that the simplification factor can be as high as sixteen.