Discrete-Event Simulation-Based Virtual Reality Environments for Construction Operations: Technology Introduction

The next logical evolution of discrete-event simulation (DES) technology for construction is for simulations and animations to run concurrently and in a manner that allows interaction with the animation to affect the course of events in the simulation. This effectively enables the creation of virtual environments with logic based on DES models, something that recent research efforts have made possible. This paper introduces this technology with the help of a case study. In particular, the paper presents how interactivity can improve the process of model validation in simulation studies, which is a critical step in achieving model credibility. Via a complex earthmoving operation, a construction engineer can use real-time interactivity to create situations of interest and study the model’s response to those, and thus validate that the response is appropriate. These capabilities can significantly enhance the process of model validation, thereby adding to the value of DES for practical use in operations plann...