Improving mobile crane operational cost for the heavy construction industry

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Construction professionals and researchers have set out to transform the construction industry into one in which guesswork and rules of thumb are replaced with scientific and engineering processes that allow project managers better control of schedule and cost. The new paradigm of modular construction has emerged and is increasingly adopted by practitioners, since it leads to improved efficiency and quality. This approach involves the off-site prefabrication of modules in a controlled environment followed by assembly on construction sites. The future of modular construction is closely tied to the ability to engineer operations for high-capacity cranes. Because of the central role that cranes play in the assembly of modular construction projects, minute planning of this particular equipment is crucial to the success of these projects. Not only must project managers have the necessary tools and information to plan lifts in a manner which accounts for changing site topology, but they must have procedures able to adapt efficiently to changes in project scope and/or to the delivery schedule of the modules. The proposed research seeks to improve the productivity and safety of crane operations for heavy industrial construction and onsite assembly of modular projects through the following objectives: (1) development of a BIM-based 4D decision support system for designing crane operation; (2) development of an automated 3D model builder; (3) design of a lift scheduling tool based on motion planning; (4) ground bearing pressure analysis; and (5) improvement of soil bearing capacity. This research will deliver the following contributions to academic knowledge and industry practice: reduced risk of crane failure; improved safety of crane operation; increased scheduling accuracy; and enhanced efficiency of crane operations. This research will also deliver the following economic, social, and environmental benefits to Canada: (1) significant cost savings for construction by reducing the likelihood of work stoppage or equipment failure, and by contributing to the optimization of crane utilization, thereby increasing the competitiveness of Canadian oil sands operations; (2) improved safety of crane operations; and (3) reduced emissions through improved efficiency.