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Construction work scheduling with Simulation

SiteSim-Editor

BIM-based Construction Work Scheduling

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the most important trending topics in construction. While current planning processes use 2D-plans for communication and organization, BIM targets continuous and object-oriented management and coordination of heterogeneous information of construction projects.

To maintain robust and effective construction work, detailed planning, analysis and evaluation of all proces-ses, resources and constraints is needed. Conventional scheduling applications fail when addressing huge amounts of processes, complex constraints and adjustments to reflect actual data from the building site. Digital building models, in contrast, are an efficient foundation for detailed building schedules.

When considering other application fields, such as ship building or car production, scheduling is often sup-ported by dynamic process simulations, which reflects the complexity and dynamics of production. These simulations enable analysis of bottlenecks and deriving appropriate countermeasures in a fast and descrip-tive way. Detailed planning and analysis of processes can yield to increased adherence to schedules and the prevention of modifications.

SiteSim-Editor

The SiteSim-Editor software is a tool created for BIM-based construction scheduling. Using digital building models based on the IFC-standard (Industry Foundation Classes) it allows the user to define and simulate detailed construction processes and their dependencies.

Additional information, such as bills of quantities (GAEB-standard) and quantity takeoffs (e.g. using RIB iTWO), are considered when calculating execution times. SiteSim-Editor supports, amongst others, the following functions:

Visualization of existing project data:

• Import and 3D-visualization of building models

• Import and visualization of detailed quantity splits

Template based definition of construction processes:

• Creation of hierarchical process templates (construction methods)

• Consideration of on-site workers, performance factors, resources and shifts

• Interactive assignment of templates to elements, sections and facilities

• Consideration of geometric interdependencies

• Visualization of process sequences

• Easy to use definition of scenarios

SiteSim-Editor Interface

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Simulation-based construction scheduling:

• Consideration of varying resource capacities

• Calculation of durations based on performance factors

• Creation of Gantt-charts

• 4D-animated construction progress

• Export to common file formats (e.g. MS Project, Autodesk NavisWorks)

• Statistical analysis of resource planning

• Optimization of construction progress (optional feature)

Future Extensions

• Disturbances analysis

• Risk integration and analysis

• Decomposition of building elements and spatial constraints

• Logistic simulation (incl. delivery date, storage area, etc.)

With this range of functions it is possible to precisely reuse existing project data for construction schedu-ling. All results are stored in XML / SQLite format and can be imported to other planning tools.

Benefits for building industry

• Model-oriented definition of construction processes

• Easy creation construction alternatives

• Analysis of bottlenecks

• 4D-animation of the building progress

• Various import and export functions

Being the result of the BMBF research project MEFISTO, SiteSim-Editor was developed by Ruhr University Bochum in collaboration with SimPlan AG.

3D building visualization is based on the IFC Tools Project (http://www.ifctoolsproject.com). SiteSim-Editor can be used free of charge for non-commercial research projects.

Contact usSimPlan Group

HeadquartersSophie-Scholl-Platz 663452 HanauGermany

Phone: Fax: E-Mail: Web:

+49 6181 40296-0+49 6181 40296-19info@SimPlan.dewww.SimPlan.de

BranchesBraunschweig • Bremen • Dresden • Holzgerlingen • Munich • Regensburg

SubsidiariesSimPlan Integrations GmbH, Witten (GER)SimPlan Systems GmbH, Maintal (GER)SimPlan Austria, NeufeldenSimPlan China, ShanghaiinduSim GmbH, Langenau (GER)