Effective Strategies for Simulating One-of-a-Kind Construction Projects

Abstract

Most construction projects are unique with respect to product features and their delivery process. Consequently, customized techniques for analyzing and designing these projects become inevitable. The authors propose use of Special Purpose Simulation (SPS) modeling techniques for such problems and discuss Simphony.Net, a discrete event simulation environment, utilities that support such developments. Past studies successfully implemented using SPS modeling are also discussed. Although SPS modeling approaches can be developed faster and are easier for practitioners to use, they are limited to the domain they model. General Purpose Simulation (GPS) is proposed as one way to overcome this limitation. This paper discusses the systematic steps to developing Simphony SPS tools, followed by a demonstration of GPS use in validation of such templates. A case study of a road construction project modeled using Surface Works Road Construction SPS is presented and validated using a Simphony GPS template, as proof of concept.