Enabling Higher Dimensionality of Temporal-Spatial Analysis Applied to Linear Scheduling of Construction Operations Based on Singularity Functions in Structural Engineering

在结构工程中基于奇异函数的施工作业线性调度中实现更高维度的时空分析

• 批准号: 0654318
• 负责人: Gunnar Lucko
• 金额: $ 6.76万
• 依托单位: Catholic University of America
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-07-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0654318&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enabling; Higher; Dimensionality; Temporal; Spatial

The objective of this project is to investigate how construction and other industries can move beyond the current conceptual limitations of the critical path method algorithm for scheduling and better integrate their project information in two dimensions. The existing linear scheduling method thus far has remained an essentially graphical representation for lack of a comprehensive underlying mathematical basis that would allow applying an analytical algorithm at such higher dimensionality. To address this issue, the research will utilize the inherent versatility of the mathematical class of singularity functions and develop a self-contained new method of analyzing and optimizing linear and repetitive project schedules. The feasibility of this project is rooted in the discrete geometry-based activity description in linear schedules, in the valuable mathematical properties of singularity functions, and in their existing application to beams under various loads in structural analysis. Singularity functions are very desirable as they present a flexible means of modeling a phenomenon of interest in a single mathematical expression that may contain numerous components of different degree of complexity, but can still be solved manually with basic geometry and algebra skills to verify computer calculations.Real-world case studies with detailed schedule analyses of major projects in the national capital region will serve for verification and validation. An IT tool and associated educational materials will bring the expanded analytical capabilities to current project managers in the field, to future project managers and their educators in the classroom, and to other researchers. The PI will bring the fruits of this research to the Career Opportunities in Architecture, Construction, and Engineering mentoring program and to various pre-engineering summer programs at The Catholic University of America (CUA) to actively involve their constituents, including youth, women, and minorities, in educational outreach activities that will help building their skills and confidence in their abilities. The PI will share outcomes of the research with the professional and academic communities by publishing in scholarly publications, presenting the progress and results at premier conferences, and using the educational materials in continuing education training for industry professionals to facilitate the adoption of the new method. The materials will be integrated into the comprehensive practice-oriented construction curriculum at CUA. All materials will be housed on a website for timely dissemination. The new schedule analysis laboratory will become an incubator that can lead to further innovations toward the long-term vision of a fully information-integrated and information-driven project management and will give its graduate students valuable research experience.Overall, this project will generate a deeper understanding of the informational content of construction projects in their interplay between the temporal and spatial dimensions and will lead to improved planning, analysis, and execution of creating the infrastructure and the capital constructed facilities that sustain the high quality of modern life. The stakeholders of projects of linear or repetitive nature in the construction industry and in other industries will be able to benefit economically from improved resource utilization, more efficient site layout, safer workplaces through better interference detection, reduced rework, and optimized sequencing of operations. The anticipated contributions of this project to society's welfare will be (a) facilitating better decision making that can yield cost and time savings, (b) grooming young engineers into highly qualified entrants into academia and construction, and (c) developing the PI's research, teaching, and service areas for a productive future.

本项目的目标是研究建筑和其他行业如何超越目前的关键路径算法的概念限制，更好地整合他们的项目信息在两个维度。现有的线性调度方法到目前为止仍然是一个基本的图形表示缺乏一个全面的基础数学基础，将允许应用在这样的更高的维度的分析算法。为了解决这个问题，本研究将利用奇异函数的数学类的固有的多功能性，并开发一种独立的分析和优化线性和重复性项目进度的新方法。这个项目的可行性是植根于离散几何为基础的活动描述的线性时间表，在有价值的数学特性的奇异函数，并在其现有的应用程序梁在各种负载下的结构分析。奇异性函数是非常可取的，因为它们提供了一种灵活的方法，可以在一个单一的数学表达式中对感兴趣的现象进行建模，该数学表达式可能包含许多不同复杂程度的组件，但仍然可以用基本的几何和代数技能手动求解，以验证计算机计算。信息技术工具和相关的教育材料将扩大分析能力，目前的项目经理在外地，未来的项目经理和他们的教育工作者在课堂上，和其他研究人员。PI将把这项研究的成果带到建筑，建筑和工程指导计划的职业机会，以及美国天主教大学（CUA）的各种工程前暑期课程，以积极参与他们的选民，包括青年，妇女和少数民族，参与教育推广活动，这将有助于建立他们的技能和对自己能力的信心。首席研究员将与专业和学术界分享研究成果，包括在学术出版物上发表，在主要会议上介绍进展和结果，以及在行业专业人员的继续教育培训中使用教育材料，以促进采用新方法。这些材料将被整合到CUA以实践为导向的综合建筑课程中。所有材料都将放在一个网站上，以便及时分发。新的进度分析实验室将成为一个孵化器，可以引导进一步的创新，实现完全信息集成和信息驱动的项目管理的长期愿景，并将为其研究生提供宝贵的研究经验。该项目将使人们更深入地了解建设项目在时间和空间维度之间相互作用的信息内容，规划、分析和执行基础设施和基本建设设施的建设，以维持高质量的现代生活。建筑行业和其他行业的线性或重复性项目的利益相关者将能够从提高资源利用率、更有效的现场布局、通过更好的干扰检测更安全的工作场所、减少返工和优化操作顺序中获得经济效益。该项目对社会福利的预期贡献将是：（a）促进更好的决策，节省成本和时间;（B）培养年轻工程师成为学术界和建筑业的高素质新人;（c）发展PI的研究、教学和服务领域，以创造富有成效的未来。