752 research outputs found
Modelling and Analysis Using GROOVE
In this paper we present case studies that describe how the graph transformation tool GROOVE has been used to model problems from a wide variety of domains. These case studies highlight the wide applicability of GROOVE in particular, and of graph transformation in general. They also give concrete templates for using GROOVE in practice. Furthermore, we use the case studies to analyse the main strong and weak points of GROOVE
Detection and quantification of flow consistency in business process models
Business process models abstract complex business processes by representing them as graphical models. Their layout, as determined by the modeler, may have an effect when these models are used. However, this effect is currently not fully understood. In order to systematically study this effect, a basic set of measurable key visual features is proposed, depicting the layout properties that are meaningful to the human user. The aim of this research is thus twofold: first, to empirically identify key visual features of business process models which are perceived as meaningful to the user and second, to show how such features can be quantified into computational metrics, which are applicable to business process models. We focus on one particular feature, consistency of flow direction, and show the challenges that arise when transforming it into a precise metric. We propose three different metrics addressing these challenges, each following a different view of flow consistency. We then report the results of an empirical evaluation, which indicates which metric is more effective in predicting the human perception of this feature. Moreover, two other automatic evaluations describing the performance and the computational capabilities of our metrics are reported as well
BIM Integrated and Reference Process-based Simulation Method for Construction Project Planning
Die Verwendung von Simulationen zur Unterstützung traditioneller Planungsverfahren für Bauprojekte hat viele Vorteile, die in verschiedenen akademischen Forschungen vorgestellt wurden. Viele Anwendungen haben erfolgreich das Potenzial der Simulationsmethode zur Verbesserung der Qualität der Projektplanung demonstriert. Doch eine breite Anwendung der Simulationsmethoden zur Unterstützung der Planung von Bauprojekten konnte sich in der Praxis bis zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht durchsetzen. Aufgrund einiger großer Hindernisse und Herausforderungen ist der Einsatz im Vergleich zu anderen Branchen noch sehr begrenzt.
Die Komplexität sowie die dynamischen Wechselprozesse der unterschiedlichen Bauvorhaben stellen die erste Herausforderung dar.Die Anforderungen machen es sehr schwierig die verschieden Situationen realistisch zu modellieren und das Verhalten von Bauprozessen und die Interaktion mit den zugehörigen Ressourcen für reale Bauvorhaben darzustellen. Das ist einer der Gründe für den Mangel an speziellen Simulationswerkzeugen in der Bauprojektplanung. Die zweite Herausforderung besteht in der großen Menge an Projektinformationen, die in das Simulationsmodell integriert und während des gesamten Lebenszyklus des Projekts angepasst werden müssen. Die Erstellung von Simulationsmodellen, Simulationsszenarien sowie die Analyse und Verifizierung der Simulationsergebnisse ist langwierig. Ad-hoc Simulation sind daher nicht möglich. Zur Erstellung zuverlässiger Simulationsmodelle sind daher umfangreiche Ressourcen und Mitarbeiter mit speziellen Fachwissen erforderlich. Die vorgestellten Herausforderungen verhindern die breite Anwendung der Simulationsmethode zur Unterstützung der Bauprojektplanung und das Einsetzen der Software als wesentlicher Bestandteil des Arbeitsablaufes für die Bauplanung in der Praxis.
Die Forschungsarbeit in dieser Arbeit befasst sich mit diesen Herausforderungen durch die Entwicklung eines Ansatzes sowie einer Plattform für die schnelle Aufstellung von Simulationsmodellen für Bauprojekte. Das Hauptziel dieser Forschung ist die Entwicklung eines integrierten und referenzmodellbasierten BIM Simulationsansatz zur Unterstützung der Planung von Bauprojekten und die Möglichkeit der Zusammenarbeit aller am Planungs- und Simulationsprozess beteiligten Akteure.
Die erste Herausforderung wird durch die Einführung eines RPM-Konzepts (Reference Process Model) durch die Modellierung von Konstruktionsprozessen unter Verwendung von Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) angegangen. Der Vorteil der RPM Modelle ist das sie bearbeitet und modifiziert können und dass sie automatisch als einsatzbereite Module in Simulationsmodelle umgewandelt werden können. Die RPM-Modelle enthalten auch Informationen zu Ressourcenanforderungen und andere verwandte Informationen für verschiedene Baubereiche mit unterschiedlichen Detaillierungsgraden. Die Verwendung von BPMN hat den Vorteil, dass die Simulationsmodellierung für das Projektteam, einschließlich derjenigen, die sich nicht mit der Simulation auskennen, flexibler, interoperabler und verständlicher ist. Bei diesem Ansatz ist die Modellierung von Referenzprozessmodellen vollständig von den Simulationskernkomponenten getrennt, um das Simulations-Toolkit generisch und erweiterbar für verschiedenste Konstruktionsbereiche wie Gebäude und Brücken. Der vorgestellte Forschungsansatz unterstützt die kontinuierliche Anwendung von Simulationsmodellen während des gesamten Projektlebenszyklus. Die Simulationsmodelle, die zur Unterstützung der Planung in der frühen Entwurfsphase erstellt werden, können von Simulationsexperten während der gesamten Planungs- und Bauphase weiter ausgebaut und aktualisiert werden.
Die zweite Herausforderung wird durch die direkte Integration der Building Information Modeling (BIM) -Methode in die Simulationsmodellierung auf der Grundlage des Industry Foundation Classes-IFC (ISO 16739) , dem am häufigsten verwendeten BIM-Austauschformat, angegangen. Da die BIM-Modelle einen wichtigen Teil der Eingabeinformationen von Simulationsmodellen enthalten, können sie als Grundlage für die Visualisierung von Ergebnissen in Form von 4D-BIM-Modellen verwendet werden. Diese Integration ermöglicht die schnelle und automatische Filterung und Extraktion sowie die Umwandlung notwendiger Informationen aus BIM Entwurf-Modellen. Um die Erstellung detaillierter Projektmodelle zu beschleunigen, wurde eine spezielle Methode für die halbautomatische Top-Down-Detaillierung von Projektstammmodelle entwickelt, die notwendige Eingangsdaten für die Simulationsmodelle sind. Diese Methode bietet den Vorteil, dass Konstruktionsalternativen mit minimalen Änderungen am Simulationsmodell untersucht werden können.
Der entwickelte Ansatz wurde als Software- Prototyp in Form eines modularen Construction Simulation Toolkit (CST) basierend auf der Discrete Event Simulation (DES)- Methode und eines Collaboration- Webportals (ProSIM) zum Verwalten von Simulationsmodellen implementiert.
Die so eingebettete Simulation ermöglicht mit minimalen Änderungen die Bewertung von Entwurfsalternativen und Konstruktionsmethoden auf den Bauablauf. Produktions- und Logistiksvorgänge können gleichzeitig in einer einheitlichen Umgebung simuliert werden und berücksichtigen die gemeinsam genutzten Ressourcen und die Interaktion zwischen Produktions- und Logistikaktivitäten. Es berücksichtigt auch die Änderungen im Baustellenlayout während der Konstruktionsphase. Die Verifizierung und Validierung des vorgeschlagenen Ansatzes wird durch verschiedene hypothetische und reale Bauprojekten durchgeführt.:1 Introduction: motivation, problem statement and objectives
1.1 Motivation
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Thesis Structure
2 Definitions, Related work and background information
2.1 Simulation definition
2.2 Simulation system definition
2.3 Discrete Event Simulation
2.5 How simulation works
2.6 Workflow of simulation study
2.7 Related work
2.8 Traditional construction planning methods
2.8.1 Gantt chart
2.8.2 Critical Path Method (CPM)
2.8.3 Linear scheduling method/Location-based scheduling
2.9 Business Process Model and Notation
2.10Workflow patterns
2.10.1 Supported Control Flow Patterns
3 Reference Process-based Simulation Approach
3.1 Reference Process-based simulation approach
3.2 Reference Process Models
3.3 Reference process model for single task
3.4 Reference process models for complex activities
3.5 Process Pool
3.6 Top-down automatic detailing of project schedules
3.7 Simulation model formalism
3.8 Fundamental design concepts and application scope
4 Data Integration between simulation and construction Project models
4.1 Data integration between BIM models and simulation models
4.1.1 Transformation of IFC models to Graph models
4.1.2 Checking BIM model quality
4.1.3 Filtering of BIM models
4.1.4 Semantic enrichment of BIM models
4.1.5 Reference process models and BIM models
4.2 Reference Process Models and resources models
4.3 Process models and productivity factors
5 Construction Simulation Toolkit
5.1 System architecture and implementation
5.2 Basic steps to create a CST simulation model
5.3 CST Simulation components
5.3.1 Input components
5.3.2 Process components
5.3.3 Output components
5.3.4 Logistic components
5.3.5 Collaboration platform ProSIM
6 Case Studies and Validation
6.1 Verification and Validation of Simulation Models
6.2 Verification and validation techniques for simulation models
6.3 Case study 1: generic planning model
6.4 Case study 2: high rise building
6.4.1 Scenario I: effect of changing number of workers on structural work duration
6.4.2 Scenario II: simulation of structural work on operation level
6.4.3 Scenario III: automatic generation of detailed project schedule
6.5 Case study 3: airport terminal building
6.5.1 Multimodel Container
6.5.2 Scenario I: automatic generation of detailed project schedule
6.5.3 Scenario II: Find the minimal project duration
6.5.4 Scenario III: construction work for a single floor
7 Conclusions and Future Research
7.1 Conclusions
7.2 Outlook of the possible future research topics
7.2.1 Integration with real data collecting
7.2.2 Multi-criteria optimisation
7.2.3 Extend the control-flow and resource patterns
7.2.4 Consideration of further structure domains
7.2.5 Considering of space allocation and space conflicts
8 Appendix - Scripts
9 Appendix B - Reference Process Models
9.1 Reference Process Models for structural work
9.1.1 Wall
9.1.2 Roof
9.1.3 Foundations
9.1.4 Concrete work
9.1.5 Top-Down RPMs for structural work in a work section
10 Appendix E
10.1 Basic elements of simulation models in Plant Simulation
10.2 Material Flow Objects
11 ReferencesUsing simulation to support construction project planning has many advantages, which have been presented in various academic researches. Many applications have successfully demonstrated the potential of using simulation to improve the quality of construction project planning. However, the wide adoption of simulation has not been achieved in practice yet. It still has very limited use compared with other industries due to some major obstacles and challenges.
The first challenge is the complexity of construction processes and projects planning methods, which make it very difficult to develop realistic simulation models of construction processes and represent their dynamic behavior and the interaction with project resources. This led to lack of special simulation tools for construction project planning. The second challenge is the huge amount of project information that has to be integrated into the simulation model and to be maintained throughout the design, planning and construction phases. The preparation of ad-hoc simulation models and setting up different scenarios and verification of simulation results usually takes a long time. Therefore, creating reliable simulation models requires extensive resources with advanced skills.
The presented challenges prevent the wide application of simulation techniques to support and improve construction project planning and adopt it as an essential part of the construction planning workflow in practice.
The research work in this thesis addresses these challenges by developing an approach and platform for rapid development of simulation models for construction projects. The main objective of this research is to develop a BIM integrated and reference process-based simulation approach to support planning of construction projects and to enable collaboration among all actors involved in the planning and simulation process.
The first challenge has been addressed through the development of a construction simulation toolkit and the Reference Process Model (RPM) method for modelling construction processes for production and logistics using Business Process Modelling and Notation (BPMN). The RPM models are easy to understood also by non-experts and they can be transformed automatically into simulation models as ready-to-use modules. They describe the workflow and logic of construction processes and include information about duration, resource requirements and other related information for different construction domains with different levels of details. The use of BPMN has many advantages. It enables the understanding of how simulation models work by project teams, including those who are not experts in simulation.
In this approach, the modelling of Reference Process Models is totally separated from the simulation core components. In this way, the simulation toolkit is generic and extendable for various construction types such as buildings, bridges and different construction domains such as structural work and indoor operations.
The presented approach supports continuous adoption of simulation models throughout the whole project life cycle. The simulation model which supports project planning in the early design phase can be continuously extended with more detailed RPMs and updated information through the planning and construction phases.
The second challenge has been addressed by supporting direct integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) method with the simulation modelling based on the Industry Foundation Classes IFC (ISO 16739) standard, which is the most common and only ISO standard used for exchanging BIM models. As the BIM models contain the biggest part of the input information of simulation models and they can be used for effective visualization of results in the form of animated 4D BIM models. The integration between BIM and simulation enables fast and semi-automatic filtering, extraction and transformation of the necessary information from BIM models for both design and construction site models. In addition, a special top-down semi-automatic detailing method was developed in order to accelerate the process of preparing detailed project schedules, which are essential input data for the simulation models and hence reduce the time and efforts needed to create simulation models.
The developed approach has been implemented as a software prototype in the form of a modular Construction Simulation Toolkit (CST) based on the Discrete Event Simulation (DES) method and an online collaboration web portal 'ProSIM' for managing simulation models.
The collaboration portal helps to overcome the problem of huge information and make simulation models accessible for non simulation experts.
Simulation models created by CST toolkit facilitate the evaluation of design alternatives and construction methods with minimal changes in the simulation model. Both production and logistic operations can be simulated at the same time in a unified environment and take into account the shared resources and the interaction between production and logistic activities. It also takes into account the dynamic nature of construction projects and hence the changes in the construction site layout during the construction phase. The verification and validation of the proposed approach is carried out through various academic and real construction project case studies.:1 Introduction: motivation, problem statement and objectives
1.1 Motivation
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Thesis Structure
2 Definitions, Related work and background information
2.1 Simulation definition
2.2 Simulation system definition
2.3 Discrete Event Simulation
2.5 How simulation works
2.6 Workflow of simulation study
2.7 Related work
2.8 Traditional construction planning methods
2.8.1 Gantt chart
2.8.2 Critical Path Method (CPM)
2.8.3 Linear scheduling method/Location-based scheduling
2.9 Business Process Model and Notation
2.10Workflow patterns
2.10.1 Supported Control Flow Patterns
3 Reference Process-based Simulation Approach
3.1 Reference Process-based simulation approach
3.2 Reference Process Models
3.3 Reference process model for single task
3.4 Reference process models for complex activities
3.5 Process Pool
3.6 Top-down automatic detailing of project schedules
3.7 Simulation model formalism
3.8 Fundamental design concepts and application scope
4 Data Integration between simulation and construction Project models
4.1 Data integration between BIM models and simulation models
4.1.1 Transformation of IFC models to Graph models
4.1.2 Checking BIM model quality
4.1.3 Filtering of BIM models
4.1.4 Semantic enrichment of BIM models
4.1.5 Reference process models and BIM models
4.2 Reference Process Models and resources models
4.3 Process models and productivity factors
5 Construction Simulation Toolkit
5.1 System architecture and implementation
5.2 Basic steps to create a CST simulation model
5.3 CST Simulation components
5.3.1 Input components
5.3.2 Process components
5.3.3 Output components
5.3.4 Logistic components
5.3.5 Collaboration platform ProSIM
6 Case Studies and Validation
6.1 Verification and Validation of Simulation Models
6.2 Verification and validation techniques for simulation models
6.3 Case study 1: generic planning model
6.4 Case study 2: high rise building
6.4.1 Scenario I: effect of changing number of workers on structural work duration
6.4.2 Scenario II: simulation of structural work on operation level
6.4.3 Scenario III: automatic generation of detailed project schedule
6.5 Case study 3: airport terminal building
6.5.1 Multimodel Container
6.5.2 Scenario I: automatic generation of detailed project schedule
6.5.3 Scenario II: Find the minimal project duration
6.5.4 Scenario III: construction work for a single floor
7 Conclusions and Future Research
7.1 Conclusions
7.2 Outlook of the possible future research topics
7.2.1 Integration with real data collecting
7.2.2 Multi-criteria optimisation
7.2.3 Extend the control-flow and resource patterns
7.2.4 Consideration of further structure domains
7.2.5 Considering of space allocation and space conflicts
8 Appendix - Scripts
9 Appendix B - Reference Process Models
9.1 Reference Process Models for structural work
9.1.1 Wall
9.1.2 Roof
9.1.3 Foundations
9.1.4 Concrete work
9.1.5 Top-Down RPMs for structural work in a work section
10 Appendix E
10.1 Basic elements of simulation models in Plant Simulation
10.2 Material Flow Objects
11 Reference
Automated Modeling with Abstraction for Enterprise Architecture (AMA4EA):Business Process Model Automation in an Industry 4.0 Laboratory
The transformation towards the Industry 4.0 paradigm requires companies to manage large amounts of data. This poses serious challenges with regard to how effectively to handle data and extract value from it. The state-of-the-art research of Enterprise Architecture (EA) provides limited knowledge on addressing this challenge. In this article, the Automated Modeling with Abstraction for Enterprise Architecture (AMA4EA) method is proposed and demonstrated. An abstraction hierarchy is introduced by AMA4EA to support companies to automatically abstract data from enterprise systems to concepts, then to automatically create an EA model. AMA4EA was demonstrated at an Industry 4.0 laboratory. The demonstration showed that AMA4EA could abstract detailed data from the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to be relevant for a business process model that provided a useful and simplified visualization of production process data. The model communicated the detailed business data in an easily understandable way to stakeholders. AMA4EA is an innovative and novel method that contributes new knowledge to EA research. The demonstration provides sufficient evidence that AMA4EA is useful and applicable in the Industry 4.0 environment
Integration of BPM systems
New technologies have emerged to support the global economy where for instance suppliers, manufactures and retailers are working together in order to minimise the cost and
maximise efficiency. One of the technologies that has become a buzz word for many businesses is business process management or BPM. A business process comprises activities
and tasks, the resources required to perform each task, and the business rules linking these activities and tasks. The tasks may be performed by human and/or machine actors.
Workflow provides a way of describing the order of execution and the dependent relationships between the constituting activities of short or long running processes.
Workflow allows businesses to capture not only the information but also the processes that transform the information - the process asset (Koulopoulos, T. M., 1995). Applications which involve automated, human-centric and collaborative processes across organisations are
inherently different from one organisation to another. Even within the same organisation but over time, applications are adapted as ongoing change to the business processes is seen as the norm in today’s dynamic business environment. The major difference lies in the specifics of business processes which are changing rapidly in order to match the way in which businesses operate. In this chapter we introduce and discuss Business Process Management (BPM) with a focus on the integration of heterogeneous BPM systems across multiple organisations. We identify the problems and the main challenges not only with regards to technologies but also in the social and cultural context. We also discuss the issues that have arisen in our bid to find the solutions
An Interactive framework to develop and align business process models
In the past few decades, the usage of Business Process Management (BPM) has enormously increased. Organizations are devoting resources towards development and use of BPM techniques and technologies to analyze, model, improve and implement business processes. The procedures currently used for collecting information to create business process models generally lead to misunderstanding or ambiguity between model and domain experts. We propose a framework to build business process models directly from users’ inputs captured through interactive web-forms. It also allows the users to align processes with strategic business objectives, critical success factors, and key performance indicators. Further, processes can be tagged with appropriate maturity level, types and tiers. The framework includes a dashboard with real-time reports which helps decision makers to monitor organization’s performance, make better decisions, and standardize/optimize processes across the organization. A comparison of the functionality available in different tools along with proposed framework is also presented.BPMBusiness Process Managemen
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Digitised engineering knowledge for prefabricated façades
Façade design is a multidisciplinary activity requiring the balancing of many conflicting design requirements. Very often, however, the designed façade does not respond to these requirement, as relevant design and manufacturing knowledge, normally originating downstream in the design process, is not properly used upstream in the process. The inability to respond to this challenge increases the environmental impact of the construction sector, which is currently covering nearly 40% of the global emissions. Also, improving the stagnant sector’s productivity is of paramount importance today, as it is deemed to be nearly as half as that of the manufacturing sector. This research has thus investigated ways to collect, store, represent and digitalise the engineering knowledge that underpins the design of façade products for façades that are better designed. The work has involved a close collaboration with the British general contractor (and façade manufacturer) Laing O’Rourke. The research has explored ways of using design and manufacturing knowledge and it has developed a digital tool and tested its functionalities. In the first part, after a review of the state-of-the-art in knowledge-based approaches in other fields, the digital tool, and relevant methodology, are developed. The tool informs the user about the expected performance and manufacturability of the façade product under analysis. The boundaries of traditional research were also pushed beyond the proof-of-concept by validating the digital tool in both simulated and real-world scenarios. The goal was to understand how people can develop a design solution while being supported by a digital tool. It was found that using such tool increases the user’s awareness about the consequences of the his/her choices in less time. In the last part of the research, the tool was used to develop a novel optimisation algorithm, by including considerations about aesthetics and manufacturability, in parallel with the traditional performance-based approach. The application of the algorithm to a case study has shown that it is possible to improve existing solutions in terms of performance, without affecting aesthetic and manufacturability significantly.EPSRC, Laing O'Rourk
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