Automated BIM schedule generation approach for solving time–cost trade-off problems

Abstract

Purpose

Nowadays, building information modeling (BIM) represents an evolution in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries with its various applications. BIM is capable to store huge amounts of information related to buildings which can be leveraged in several areas such as quantity takeoff, scheduling, sustainability and facility management. The main objective of this research is to establish a model for automated schedule generation using BIM and to solve the time–cost trade-off problem (TCTP) resulting from the various scenarios offered to the user.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is developed to use the quantities exported from a BIM platform, then generate construction activities, calculate the duration of each activity and finally the logic/sequence is applied in order to link the activities together. Then, multiobjective optimization is performed using nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) in order to provide the most feasible solutions considering project duration and cost. The researchers opted NSGA-II because it is one of the well-known and credible algorithms that have been used in many applications, and its performances were tested in several comparative studies.

Findings

The proposed model is capable to select the near-optimum scenario for the project and export it to Primavera software. A case study is worked to demonstrate the use of the proposed model and illustrate its main features.

Originality/value

The proposed model can provide a simple and user-friendly model for automated schedule generation of construction projects. In addition, opportunities related to the interface between an automated schedule generation model and Primavera software are enabled as Primavera is one of the most popular and common schedule software solutions in the construction industry. Furthermore, it allows importing data from MS Excel, which is used to store activities data in the different scenarios. In addition, there are numerous solutions, each one corresponds to a certain duration and cost according to the performance factor which often reflects the number of crews assigned to the activity and/or construction method.

Citation

ElMenshawy, M. and Marzouk, M. (2021), "Automated BIM schedule generation approach for solving time–cost trade-off problems", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 28 No. 10, pp. 3346-3367. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-08-2020-0652