Simulation and IT-based modeling for construction operations and infrastructure systems

加拿大水务及废水协会(下称“水务及废水协会”)报告指出，加拿大共有超过112,000公里的水管，在15年(1997-2012年)期间需要125亿元修复现有(老化)的水管和建造新的水管，以应付预计的人口增长。尽管文献中报道了几项关于市政基础设施系统建设和修复的研究工作，但还需要进一步调查，以研究具有成本效益的供水系统各要素的修复方法(S)，并优化市政资源(预算、劳动力和设备)对供水系统项目的配置。申请人利用他以前和正在进行的基础设施管理系统研究工作，计划从建设和修复的角度调查地下市政基础设施系统领域。拟议的研究涉及设计决策支持系统(DSS)，以实现以下主要活动：(A)自动检测供水系统的漏水并研究其原因；(B)考虑到对环境的影响和供水干线工程的整个生命周期的总成本，选择具有成本效益的修复方法；(C)评估供水管网的可靠性和评价输水干管的性能；(D)开发一个模型，以优化应急项目中市政资源(应急和维修人员(劳动力和设备))的分配。这些活动和模型将使用蒙特卡罗模拟、网络地理信息系统(Web-GIS)、优化和决策技术来开发。决策支持系统将利用网络作为平台，促进各级市政管理部门之间的沟通，并加快其决策进程。拟议的研究将有助于学术界和工业部门水系统修复管理的最新水平。这项研究被认为对三级政府(市、省和联邦)满足公众对生活质量、安全和健康的需求至关重要。

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) reported that there were more than 112,000 kilometers of water mains in Canada, which required $12.5 billion over 15-year (1997-2012) period to rehabilitate the existing (deteriorated) and construct new water mains in order to cope with the projected population growth. Although there are several research works, reported in the literature, on construction and rehabilitation of municipal infrastructure systems, further investigation is needed to study the cost-effective rehabilitation method(s) for various elements of water system and to optimize the allocation of municipal resources (budget, labor, and equipment) to water system projects. The applicant, capitalizing on his previous and ongoing research works on infrastructure management systems, is planning to investigate the area of underground municipal infrastructure systems from construction and rehabilitation perspectives. The proposed research involves designing a decision support system (DSS) to achieve the following main activities: (a) auto-detect water leak from the water system and study its causes; (b) select the cost-effective rehabilitation method considering impact on environment and the total cost through the life cycle of a water main project; (c) assess the reliability of water distribution networks and evaluate the performance of water transmission mains; and (d) develop a model to optimize the allocation of municipal resources (emergency and repair crews (labor and equipment)) among emergency projects. These activities and models will be developed using Monte Carlo simulation, web geographical information system (Web-GIS), optimization, and decision making techniques. The DSS will facilitate, using the web as a platform, communication among various levels of municipal management and accelerate their decision-making process. The proposed research will contribute to the state of the art of water system rehabilitation management in both academic and industrial sectors. This research is deemed essential to the three government tiers (municipal, provincial, and federal) to meet public needs of quality of life, safety, and health.