Simulation-Based Analysis of Disturbances in Construction Operations

Construction site work is not only influenced by external factors such as weather, soil, available space and traffic conditions, but also by internal ones, in particular the qualifications of the employed personnel and the reliability of subcontractors. These factors are stochastic and thus cannot be predicted, thereby creating great difficulties for construction operations management. The implementation of simulation presents one possibility to support the planning of construction work and thus to secure construction operations. Within a current project, the simulation of construction operations is being supplemented by the registration of construction operations disturbances and their consequences. A database allowing for the recording and classification of disturbances at various construction sites was developed for this purpose. This disturbance database can be integrated into a simulation-based planning tool as an expandable data basis, allowing disturbances to be parameterised and to be taken into account in modelled construction operations. This tool also supports planning operations in Lean Construction such as work flow and resource levelling.