Automation in Construction/ Project Management

这项拟议研究的目的是研究和促进支持建筑业数字化转型的两个主要领域的知识体系：可持续和有弹性的民用基础设施的价值驱动工具；以及优化工程、采购和施工(EPC)项目交付的自动化方法和算法。在第一个领域，计划开发1)用于进行非破坏性和非侵入性检查测试的创新现场检查协议，并开发使用数据融合算法进行状态评估的新的多传感技术方法，2)评估和管理供水网络的目标恢复要求的工具，以及能够制定价值驱动的维护、干预和恢复计划的优化算法，以及3)系统动力学模型，以帮助决策者研究和可视化选定的干预计划和恢复战略对其基础设施资产性能的影响。在第二个领域，计划1)开发一个综合框架，以便在当前赠款期间所取得进展的基础上，对重复、模块化和传统的建筑项目进行大规模随机时间-费用权衡。我们将探索利用精益和敏捷的管理原则、关键链、最后计划员系统和建筑信息建模，2)通过扩展申请者和他的学生在RFID、数字成像和3D激光扫描方面的工作，通过试验将UWB与这些技术相结合来改进对象识别和定位方法，3)研究一套工具，使已建设施的业主-建造者能够优化材料管理，4)研究和识别工作空间建模中的不确定性来源，并利用集成的基于代理的模拟和系统动力学模型开发用于建筑工地碰撞的随机3D可视化和检测的框架，5)开发一个计算平台，绘制承包商在整个项目开发阶段的组织风险环境图，其中考虑到项目交付方法、合同类型以及一套风险识别、量化、缓解和控制工具。将开发承包商组织的风险成熟度模型，以确定需要改进的领域，以实现有效的风险管理。考虑到申请人目前和过去在相关领域的贡献，上述拟议研究的范围是可以实现的。拟议的工作旨在提供解决方案，以应对加拿大民用基础设施管理方面的严峻挑战，以及加拿大建筑业所需的数字化转型，以实现其生产率和竞争力的大幅提高，并因此直接为创造就业机会和加拿大经济增长做出贡献。

The objective of this proposed research is to study and contribute to the body of knowledge in two main areas that support digital transformation of the construction industry: value driven tools for sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure; and automated methods and algorithms for optimized delivery of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects. In the first area it is planned to develop 1) an innovative field inspection protocol for conducting non-destructive and non-invasive inspection tests, and develop a novel multi-sensing technology method for condition assessment using data fusion algorithms, 2) tools to assess and manage targeted resilience requirements for water distribution networks, and optimization algorithms to enable preparation of value-driven maintenance, intervention and recovery plans, and 3) a system dynamics model to assist decision makers in studying and visualizing the impact of selected intervention plans and recovery strategies on performance of their infrastructure assets. In the second area it is planned to 1) develop an integrated framework to enable large-scale stochastic time-cost trade-off optimization for repetitive, modular and traditional construction projects that builds on developments made during the current grant. We will explore utilization of lean and agile management principles, critical chain, last planner system and building information modeling in that framework, 2) advance object identification and localization methods by extending the work of the applicant and his students on RFIDs, digital imaging and 3D laser scanning by experimenting with integration of UWB with these technologies, 3) examine a set of tools that enables optimized material management for owner-builders of constructed facilities, 4) study and identify sources of uncertainty in workspace modelling and develop a framework for stochastic 3D visualisation and detection of collisions on construction jobsites using an integrated agent-based simulation and system dynamics model, and 5) develop a computational platform that maps a contractor's organization risk environment throughout its projects development stages taking into account project delivery method, type of contract, and a set of tools for risk identification, quantification, mitigation and control. Risk maturity model of the contractor's organization will be developed to identify areas of needed improvement for efficient risk management. The above scope of proposed research is attainable considering the applicant's current and past contributions in related fields. The proposed work aims to deliver solutions that meet serious challenges in management of Canadian civil infrastructure, and in the needed digital transformation of the Canadian construction industry in order to realize sizable improvement in its productivity and competitiveness, and accordingly contribute directly to job-creation and to growth in the Canadian economy.