Abstract

This research presents an integrated model for the planning, scheduling and control of high-rise building construction. The model has three main modules: planning, scheduling and progress reporting. The developed model is flexible, providing an open architecture that allows for user interaction. The proposed model is designed using object-oriented modeling and builds on earlier developments made by EI-Rayes (1997) and Moselhi. It also captures the experience gained from an actual case study of a recently constructed institutional high-rise building. The case study assisted in the model developments in establishing the job logic vis-à-vis the relationships among the project activities and progress reporting, supporting exception reporting and the generation of different types of reports. The case is of a 17 floor institutional high-rise building constructed for Concordia University in downtown Montréal. The planning module of the developed model was designed using knowledge extracted from the literature and the experience gained from the case study. It has the ability to assign both the contractor's own work force and subcontractors simultaneously to reflect the status of current practice. The scheduling module uses resource driven scheduling techniques for repetitive construction and considers the impact of the learning curve and crew work continuity. An optimization algorithm designed using dynamic programming is embedded in the model to enable the optimization of the project schedule considering the following priorities: (1) cost; (2) time; and (3) their combined effect; in a manner similar to what is known as A + B bidding in highway construction. The model was coded using Microsoft Visual C++ Version 6.0 and Microsoft Visual C++ NET. The tracking and control model uses the Earned Value technique and is capable of providing various efficient reports, to suite the needs of different levels of management. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the essential features of the developed model.