Using agent-based simulation to manage logistics for earthmoving operations in construction

Planning earth moving projects involves numerous assumptions on the interactions between site vehicles, traffic and subcontractors which are described as agents in this paper. This paper discusses how agent-based simulations can be used to improve the planning of earthmoving activities in construction. This research is based on the London Gateway Port in which a significant portion of the project dealt with earthmoving operations.The observations based on this construction project indicated that dumper trucks were subjected to irregular travel routes and varying distances between the excavation and dumping areas. This was further compounded by related logistic activities affecting the progression of the earthmoving activity. Routing of material delivery affects both the cost and timing of the construction project. Efficiency gains based on reduction in working time can be optimised by planning a construction site from a logistics perspective. Estimating the delay of the earthmoving operation because of these interferences is difficult to measure and cannot be implemented at the planning process. Existing activity scanning tools typically eliminate surrounding logistic activities and therefore cannot be confidently relied upon during planning. Agents interacting with the earthmoving environment intend to underpin how the earthmoving operation might be planned to reduce spatial time clashes. The ability to use agent-based simulations to interact with the construction environment to predict efficiency and improve safety of the earthmoving operations is critical, as this cannot be implemented with existing activity scanning simulation tools.