Simulation-Assisted Project Data Integration for Development and Analysis of As-Built Schedules

Abstract

As-built schedules are an essential tool for evaluating contractors’ schedule performance and analyzing delay and lost productivity claims. Yet, most often construction schedules are not updated frequently and/or accurately as required, which limit the availability of as-built schedules. Furthermore, the retrospective development of as-built schedules, when sufficient and reliable project data is available, is a lengthy and costly process. This study describes a simulation-assisted modeling approach that automatically processes and integrates schedules progress data and develops as-built schedules at the activity level. The proposed method uses conceptual entities that are central to the operation of simulation models and whose content changes as they route through the schedule network model. The approach introduces (1) an entity information model that records relevant schedule information either in a materialized or virtual form, and (2) an entity lifecycle model that imitates the possible routes an entity instance may maneuver through in a schedule network model which, together, simultaneously respond to schedule logic and invoking duration changes. To demonstrate its effectiveness, a prototype based on the framework was developed using Excel and MS Project and was tested with a real case study. The study is expected to facilitate the development of as-built schedules for the analysis of delay and time extension claims.