Keywords: dynamic space system, existence vector, intermediate function, schedule, spatio-temporal conflict, topological relationship.

The importance of constructability analysis is widely accepted in the AEC community. Many constructability guidelines are related to space planning and utilization [3]. Early consideration of construction space issues in site layouts, work programming, and construction method selection can improve the constructability of a project. Optimizing utilization of construction space can improve productivity, mitigate expenditure on costly temporal facility, effectively protect finished works, save transportation cost, and reduce reworks.

Construction often involves multi-trade interaction between various subcontractors in a constrained site area. Each trade will require its own workspace, storage space, and equipment operation space as well as travel routes to accomplish their work. Many of the construction space conflicts occur due to construction space competition; so detecting these time-space conflicts is critical for programming smooth construction. By eliminating these spatio-temporal inconsistencies in construction plans, many site problems arising from workspace congestion and interference can be avoided, and consequently improving the constructability of the project.

Previous studies have been conducted to optimise facility layout, to model construction space requirements, and to detect time-space conflicts [1,2,4,5,6,7,8]. However, most of these space conflict detection studies focused on identifying space conflicts that occur in the intersection topological relationship. Furthermore, less research has been conducted to provide a systematic modelling method for depicting the temporal characteristics of the project space system.

This paper firstly introduces the static 3D space system modelling method, and then presents the Extended Product Oriented Scheduling Model (EPOSM) to integrate such project aspects as product, process, space, and intermediate function. In the static space model, the space decomposition method is presented, and the static binary topological relationships between the space entities are introduced. Based on the EPOSM, a static 3D system can be converted into a dynamic 3D space system. The concept of `existence vector' and the dimension Boolean computations are defined for generally depicting and deriving the dynamic characteristic of space entities and of the topological relationships. Finally, the procedures and inference algorithms to detect spatio-temporal conflicts are represented. A case study of moving a truck crane on an excavated road is analysed to illustrate the application of the proposed spatio-temporal inference algorithms.

1

Akinci B., Fischer M., Levitt R., and Carlson R., "Formalization and Automation of Time-Space conflict Analysis", Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 16(2), 124-134, 2002. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2002)16:2(124)

2

Akinic B., Fischer M., Kunz J., and Levitt R., "Representing work spaces generically in construction method models" Journal of construction engineering and management, 296-305, 2002. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2002)128:4(296)

3

Construction Industry Institute, "Constructability Concepts File", Publication of 3-3, Bureau of Engineering and The University of Texas at Austin, 1987.

4

Guo S.Y., "Identification and resolution of work space conflicts in building construction", Journal of construction engineering and management, 128(4), 287-295, 2002. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2002)128:4(287)

5

Riley D.R., and Sanvido V.E., "Patterns of Construction-Space in Multistory Buildings", Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 121(4): 464-473, 1995. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1995)121:4(464)

6

Song Y., and Chua D.K.H., "COSEE: Component State Network Centric Model for Verifying Temporal and Spatial Consistence in Project Schedules", Construction IT Bridging the Distance, Proceedings of the 20th CIB W78 Conference on Information Technology in Construction, Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand, 23-25 April 2003, 325-332, 2003.

7

Thabet W.Y., and Beliveau Y.J., "Modelling work Space to Schedule Repetitive Floors in Multistory Buildings", Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 120(1), 96-116,1994. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1994)120:1(96)

8

Tommelein I.D., and Zouein P.P., "Interactive Dynamic Layout Planning", Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 119(2), 266-287, 1993. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1993)119:2(266)

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £123 +P&P)