Real-time resource location data collection and visualization technology for construction safety and activity monitoring applications

Data to field operations of construction resources (personnel, equipment, materials) is vast, but the effort of collecting, analyzing, and visualizing is hardly ever taken. One main reason that limits higher quality in project site management decision making especially in resource intensive and complex operations is access to real-time information and subsequent technology that enables effortless data collection, processing, and visualization. Although recent developments in remote data sensing and intelligent data processing supplement manual data recording and analyze practices, few data on visualization tools in construction exist that gather data from dynamic resources and stream it to a field-realistic virtual reality environment in real-time. State-of-the-art technology in the field of real-time data collection and visualization is reviewed. A novel framework is presented that explains the method of streaming data from real-time positioning sensors to a real-time data visualization platform. Three case studies are presented which highlight its methods for recording data and visualizing information of construction activities in a (1) simulated virtual construction site, (2) outdoor construction setting, and (3) worker training environment. The results demonstrate that important construction information related to both safety and activity in field operations can be automatically monitored and visualized in real-time, thus offering benefits such as increased situational awareness to workers, equipment operators, or decision makers anywhere on a construction project or from a remote location.     

Automatic spatio-temporal analysis of construction site equipment operations using GPS data

A literature review revealed several major shortcomings in the analysis of construction equipment operations data, for example, the lack of using realistic or real-time positioning data that can feed into an equipment operations analysis or simulation model. This paper presents technology and algorithms that have the potential in aiding the automated assessment of construction site equipment operations. Utilizing commercially available low-cost global positioning system (GPS) devices enables the continuous data logging of equipment location in addition to simultaneously recording timestamps. However, before any such spatio-temporal equipment data can be reliably collected on construction sites, the error rate of the GPS devices had to be evaluated. Data analysis methods and rules for monitoring construction site equipment operations and activity were then defined. A detailed software interface was finally created that allows a user to set, analyze, and visualize several important equipment parameters towards achieving the goal of creating more realistic equipment operation analysis and potential for inclusion in simulation models. Results from field experiments show that the developed technology is able to identify and track equipment activity- and safety-related information automatically for job site performance and layout decision making, respectively. The presented work will aid construction project managers in making better decisions to plan, manage, and control equipment-related work tasks on construction sites.     

多维作业空间下的装配式建筑工程资源调度

装配式建筑促进传统建造方式向现代工业化建造方式的转变,但其现场装配、构件生产、运输物流等多维作业空间的异地域与非同步特点,常导致建造资源调度性质各异、相互牵制,并成为其推广应用的重要瓶颈问题。该文以装配式建筑工程为对象,深入分析其建造方式的特性,研究其建造过程中分布于各作业空间的建造资源协同机理|在多空间信息共享前提下,以人工、设备等建造资源协调配置为核心,提出基于时间轴多维作业调度空间降维处理技术、信息共享下多维作业空间资源调度协同技术、现场装配作业空间最优资源线确定技术|建立了装配式建筑工程资源调度方法并进行实证分析。结果表明,该调度方法能有效确定各作业空间的排产进度计划并提供额外决策支持信息。     

Framework for an intelligent earthwork system: Part II. Task identification/scheduling and resource allocation methodology

This paper is focused on developing (1) automated task identification and scheduling method and (2) resource allocation method for intelligent earthwork system (IES) described in Part I. The task identification and planning in IES involve the translation of input data to tasks for earthwork operations and explanation of what will happen with the scheduled time zone, where it will happen, and how it will happen. After scheduling earthwork tasks, the available resources, which refer to construction equipment, are allocated for task execution. Resource allocation is essential to achieve successful earthwork operations and is carried out using the resource allocation policy, which is based on the contract net algorithm proposed by Smith and Davis.     

Decision support for tower crane selection with building information models and genetic algorithms

Tower cranes are major construction equipment that is highly demanded in construction projects. The planning process for tower cranes utilization starts in early stages of the construction projects. Poor selection could incur extra costs on the construction projects or cause delays in project duration. The planning procedures for tower cranes include selection, allocation and operation. This paper presents a framework for the selection of tower cranes types and locations at construction sites. The framework considers three main models: 1) decision making model to select the tower crane type, 2) optimization model for the selection of the ideal number and location of tower cranes, and 3) 4D simulation model to simulate tower crane operations. Several clash detection scenarios are presented to assure the safety operation of the tower crane group. A case study is shown herein to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed framework.     

Periodical Literature in Urban Studies and Planning

Geographic information systems have the potential to aid planning functions in both data processing and decision making. Because the incorporation of GIS technology into local government is at an early stage, knowledge about GIS implementation and its impact on planning activities is scarce. Using a survey of local governments in four southeastern states, this paper explores how the new technology affects planning and whether it meets the expectations of the planning agencies using it. Most of the agencies surveyed report improvements in communication of information, data accessibility, and data accuracy. They report that more current data are available, and they have confidence in analyses performed with GIS technology. Political support, staffing, length of experience with GIS technology, system sharing, data-base contents, and number and type of GIS applications all exert some influence on either planning operations or decision making. While experience with GIS emerged as the most significant factor in achieving operational benefits, using GIS technology for analytical tasks positively affected improvements in decision making.     

An integrated strategy for sustainable development of the urban underground: From strategic,economic and societal aspects

Underground urbanization aids sustainability by contributing to the optimization of land use plans, diversification of urban functions, safeguarding of utility supplies and enrichment of social life. Underground space as a valuable land resource can be integrated into a general urban resources management scheme and development policy, by rationalizing resource supply according to economic demand, and by coordinating stakeholders from the public administration, private developers and users. After benchmarking best practices in administration and management, from seven cities (Helsinki, Singapore, Hong Kong, Minneapolis, Tokyo, Shanghai and Montreal), critical success factors are extracted to guide a pilot project implementation.The way to incorporate underground space planning into conventional urban planning process is exemplified by a pilot project of Suzhou City in China, which investigated thoroughly the supply potential of its underground space resource as well as the demand potential of the urban economy on underground space development. The core value of the case study in Suzhou City is based on active involvement of provincial and municipal governments, who supported territorial data collection, administrative consultation and the development of GIS-based decision-making tools. The typicality of the present case study refers to an old Chinese city with a modern Central Business District owning important economic functions for the Yangtze region. Underground Space in Suzhou City is considered as a new land resource manageable with a quantitative and spatial inventory for future allocation. An economic model putting forward a “3D land value” index will be illustrated for underground building projects. This index helps to regulate underground space development according to the resource supply potential and economic demand potential.This strategic framework including potential analysis, local implementation and instrumental innovation was developed from an international cooperation program named “Deep City project” between Switzerland and China. Further discussions on considering societal impacts affected by underground space use indicate future research directions for underground space operations management.     

Ecological cost assessment theory and practice: environmental impact of the high Ross Dam

Plans to raise the Ross Dam on the Skagit River by the American utility, City Light, will flood a valley in Canada and have generated a conflict of resource use between conservationists and proponents of economic progress. This paper examines the variety of uses of the valley at present, and their expansion for recreational use by modest improvements. Such expanded use is compared with uses available if the valley is flooded. The comparison is expressed in economic terms. The paper then continues with a critique of economic analysis to such problems of resource allocation and develops an approach to ecological resource allocation. A schedule and analysis of alternative uses is offered. The economic and ecological conclusions are examined, and it is found that the latter method is more appropriate to practical problems of allocation, at least with regard to natural resources than the former.     

Reorganizing construction logistics for improved performance

Previous research indicates that logistics reorganizing can contribute to improved performance in the construction industry. In this paper, the opportunities for such reorganizing are investigated by focusing on the connection between logistics operations at the construction site and operations undertaken before building materials land at sites. The aims of the study are: (1) to empirically explore strategic actions to reorganize construction logistics by improving the connections between on-site and off-site logistics, and (2) to develop a theoretical framework for analysis of potential options for reorganizing. The empirical inquiry involves a case study of a logistics specialist’s efforts to reorganize on-site logistics and the associated consequences for off-site operations. The study is based on 28 interviews with representatives of 13 organizations. The study provides two types of contributions. First, the theoretical framework, rooted in industrial network theory, enables analysis of reorganizing of activities, resources and actors to improve logistics performance. Second, the empirical study shows that a logistics specialist can improve on-site logistics substantially. However, such reorganizing requires adjustments of off-site logistics that may be resource demanding. Therefore, effective connecting of on-site and off-site operations calls for extended interaction between the actors in terms of joint planning and exchange of information.     

基于地表模型的城市易集水区域普查——以宁波市为例

城市暴雨内涝灾害频发,严重威胁城市正常的生产生活活动。快速有效地确定城市易集水区的主要分布区域,能为城市暴雨内涝防灾减灾工作提供直观的决策参考依据,同时为后续风险灾害评估研究提供基础数据准备。研究基于精细化城市地表模型,考虑地形因素,结合具有优秀空间分析能力的GIS技术,以宁波市为研究区域,探讨城市易集水区普查的方法可行性,同时生成易集水区域的积水深度计算工具,以期为后续灾害风险评估提供主要的评判因素,为宁波市城市内涝治理及风险防控提供科学参考依据。     

A hybrid optimization mechanism for constructing a dynamic simulation system—An operational behavior analysis of a moving scaffolding system

Standardized production processes in the construction industry can reduce uncertainty, cost and time. The Movable Scaffolding System (MSS), a new bridge construction technique, facilitates automated operations at a high rate. In an MSS, highly repetitive mechanical operations make issues of supply and allocation of machinery and raw materials extremely important. We use Simprocess, a computer simulation software package, to construct hierarchically standardized models of MSS bridge engineering operations (MSSBEO), which encompass bridge superstructure and substructure production, procurement, storage and transmission of raw materials, and utilization of nonconsumable resources such as machines, tools and human resources. We also present a novel dynamic simulation model with a novel fuzzy inference-based optimization mechanism for multiobjective optimization that can identify the optimal resource-allocation strategy under dual goals of minimized time and cost in the MSSBEO model. We analyze the MSSBEO model using the proposed optimization system and use a case study to verify the accuracy and applicability of the proposed system. Through the human decision-making module, optimized resources allocation strategies can be quickly searched to meet actual conditions and enhance the academic value and application of the optimized resource combinations. The most suitable resource combination for an actual situation is generated by applying the proposed optimization module with the fuzzy inference mechanism. After model testing, the optimized resource combinations obtained using the proposed optimization module enhance the utilizations of each resource and reduce the overstocking of materials in the simulation to achieve the goals of reduced cost, efficient work schedules and enhanced productivity.     

A new approach for automation of location-based earthwork scheduling in road construction projects

Accurate information of working locations is vital for efficient resource planning, safety of the construction site and monitoring the weekly progress of earthworks, which is missing in the existing linear scheduling methods. Construction managers have to depend on the subjective decisions for resources allocation and progress monitoring from location aspects. This has caused uncertainties in planning and scheduling, and consequently delays and cost overruns of projects. In this context, a prototype computer-based model was developed using the theory of the location-based planning. An arithmetic algorithm was designed by incorporating road design data, sectional quantities, variable productivity rates and haulage distance. This paper focuses on the improvement and demonstration of the model functions through a case study experiment, which include the automatic generation of location-based earthwork schedules and the optimisation of the weekly resource allocation when and where necessary from the location aspects, considering different options such as construction sequences of the cut/fill sections, site access points and the equipment sets with known productivity rates. The study concluded that the model is a decision supporting tool that assists in the resources planning, identifying time–space congestion, monitoring the activities progress on a weekly basis from the location aspects, and reducing the gap when communicating the scheduling information amongst the construction site teams.     

城市区域消防资源优化布局研究

安全是城市发展的重要保障和基础底线,消防资源优化布局是提升城市救援能力,保障城市安全的有效手段。针对我国城市目前消防站点覆盖率低、责任分区难划分及消防人员、装备配备结构不完整、不合理等问题,通过科学构建城市消防资源优化及布局模型,对消防站救援响应时间满意度、辖区需求点覆盖防护等级、装备贡献度及人员工作负荷度进行评估,实现消防站优化布局选址、消防救援力量及装备优化配置的模型应用,为新建消防站的选址和现有消防站的救援力量及装备优化配置提供辅助决策。     

Distributed and interoperable simulation for comprehensive disaster response management in facilities

Disaster-related simulations can be helpful for conducting various analysis on damage evaluations and response operations in damaged facilities. However, no single simulation can solve all the functional needs for complex disaster situations due to diverse disasters, damage types, and response efforts. To address these issues, the authors have developed a distributed simulation platform for a comprehensive analysis of facility damage and response operations, which can be flexibly applied to diverse disaster situations. The High Level Architecture is adopted to synchronize different federates such as simulation models and incoming data streams within an interoperable simulation environment. The developed simulation platform includes five different disaster-related federates such as the Fire Dynamics Simulator, USGS earthquake data feeds, OpenSees structure response simulation, evacuation simulation, and restoration simulation. The accuracy of interactions among different federates was confirmed with the case simulations of a facility fire evacuation and an earthquake restoration situation. The developed platform provides a flexible and interoperable distributed simulation environment for comprehensive disaster response management of unexpected disaster situations while promoting reusability and future extendibility of existing and newly-added disaster-related simulations.     

Logistics Decisions Following Urban Disasters

This work describes the development and functions of an IBM-compatible real-time microcomputer software to be used as a decision tool in coordinating and carrying out transportation-related activities in the aftermath of urban disasters such as earthquakes. The package incorporates the needs and experiences of response organizations involved in the postearthquake transportation-related operations in Mexico City. A number of transportation needs recognized as vital in operations related to emergency preparedness, response, and return to normalcy have been addressed. The software is named the "Transportation Emergency Decision Support System" (TEDSS) and includes the following features: 1) A graphical network-editing capability to modify the street network in terms of geometric and operational changes which could take place, including closed street links, changes in number of lanes, changes in travel direction of streets, cordoned off areas, parking-regulation changes, changes in transit routes, etc. 2) An emergency vehicle-dispatch algorithm to determine the best route to be taken from an origin to an incident point, considering all the changes which have taken place in the street system geometry and operational conditions. 3) A street clean-up prioritization scheme to assign priorities for the clean up of closed street links in terms of the amount of resources needed for the cleanup of a closed link as well as the degree of importance of each closed link in search and rescue operations and return to normalcy.     

基于GIS的光缆资源信息系统的设计与实现

本文探讨了在GIS支持下建立光缆资源信息系统的方法 ,阐述了光缆资源信息系统的总体结构和系统主要功能 ,分析了光缆资源各实体之间的关系 ,并进行了数据库设计 ,然后介绍了系统特点。本系统实现了光缆资源管理的自动化。     

基于GIS的城市防灾公园规划研究——以西安市为例

西安市防灾公园规划研究应用GIS技术的空间分析功能,对现状城市公园的避险能力进行了定性和定量分析,结合人口数据,得出结论:对原有公园要增加面积、扩大服务半径、全部改造成防灾公园,并利用现有城市广场、体育场等开敞空间,扩大避难空间.另外,研究还对防灾公园的周边资源进行分析,为人口疏散、资源调配等救灾工作提供依据.     

DECISION-SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN DESIGN BASED ON THE TARGET OF SLOWING DOWN URBAN RESOURCE FLOWS: FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF URBAN METABOLISM

The Urban Metabolism theory makes it possible to quantify design methods and strategies for sustainable urban design based on analysis of urban resource flows. Aiming at improving the urban environment, this paper takes four types of urban resources closely related to residents’ lives (i.e., water, energy, organic waste, and food) as evaluation objects and their flow rates as the evaluation indicators, and operates with design scenario models as the core to establish the decision-supportive framework for urban design, which consists of four basic parts: urban status analysis, design scenario setting, design alternatives, and design evaluation. This framework could quickly present design proposals and evaluate their expected performances, providing a basis for decision making in design practice. Then, China World Trade Center area in Beijing is taken as an example to interpret the practical value of the framework by providing guidelines for urban design practices of this area. Finally, the paper points out that instead of showing the optimal design strategy, the final output of the framework just provides decision makers an intuitive understanding of a specific design proposal and the impacts the design intervention would bring to the urban environment.     

Australian natural resources law and the Gordon‐Franklin dam controversy: a resource economic analysis

This paper identifies and discusses, within a resource economics perspective, some of the most important legal dimensions of the Gordon‐Franklin dam controversy in Australia. This analysis demonstrates the existence of specific shortcomings in the Australian natural resources legislation. Three basic changes in this legislation are proposed to palliate these shortcomings. These are: (i) the requirement that natural resource use decisions be based on a systematic decision‐making procedure, the specifics of which are presented in the paper; (ii) the opening up of these decisions to the process of judicial review; and (iii) the extension of locus standi rules to individuals or groups who do not have a proprietary interest in a natural resource case. It is shown that these changes would provide a framework for the peaceful resolution of other natural resource conflicts in Australia.     

An innovative approach for generation of a time location plan in road construction projects

Existing linear scheduling methods for earthwork activities lack accurate scheduling locations in road construction projects. Project planners and construction managers largely depend on subjective decisions for the allocation of resources at correct locations. This has caused uncertainties in planning and scheduling, and consequently delays and cost overruns of projects. Accurate information of working locations is vital for efficient resource planning, scheduling and equipment mobilisation. A theoretical framework for a virtual construction prototype model is developed using the theory of location‐based planning and this is used as the basis of sensitivity analysis to identify critical factors affecting road construction. An arithmetic algorithm is developed by incorporating road design data, sectional quantities, variable productivity data, unit cost, site access points and haulage distance. The model generates a time location plan automatically with the aim to provide location‐based scheduling information of earthwork activities. Weekly progress profiles, terrain surfaces, cost profiles and S‐curve are the other outputs of the model. Data and information collected from the case studies are used to demonstrate functionalities of the model. Critical factors controlling the productivity of earthwork activities such as different types of equipment, soil characteristics and site access points were used to display the sensitivity effect by means of ‘what‐if scenarios’. The model is a valuable tool in analysing impacts of different factors associated with productivity data and resource planning from location aspects in the earthwork construction projects.