A hybrid-based system for site layout planning in construction

Abstract

The layout of temporary facilities on a construction site is a complex and experience-based process that aims at minimizing the travel distance among facilities and improving site productivity and safety. To address the difficulties associated with the process, this article presents a hybrid system for construction-site layout planning. The originality of the proposed system stems from its integration of three components, each is developed based on a different artificial intelligence (AI)-based technique: (1) a knowledge base that stores and uses information related to identifying necessary facilities and their sizes, (2) a fuzzy quantifier to address the vagueness inherent in the project manager's assessment of facilities' closeness relationships, and (3) an improved genetic algorithm to search for an optimal layout solution. Details of the system are described, and a case study is used to demonstrate its capabilities. Possible extensions are then outlined.