Planning and Optimizing Tower Cranes Operations in Construction Sites Using Agent Based Simulation

Abstract

Abstract Tower cranes are considered to be one of the most important equipment in large construction projects. The layout planning of tower cranes that defines the types, the quantities and the positions of the tower cranes, has a significant impact on the overall productivity and cost effectiveness of construction projects. Previous research utilized either mathematical methods, or visualization tools to find an optimal tower crane layout plan. But such methods and tools are not adequate to evaluate the effect of conflict among tower cranes in terms of time and cost calculations. Moreover, they don’t assure the maximum efficiency of tower crane layout to fulfill the needs of crane-based executed activities. This research developed an Agent Based Simulation (ABS) model to overcome the limitations of previous research. The model is built on AnyLogic software using agent based simulation method. The proposed ABS model has the superiority of quantitatively assessing the conflict effect on the overall time and costs of tower crane operations. It is capable of simulating tower cranes operations and interactions between different agents of the model.