Interactive decision support system for building construction scheduling

The present paper describes the main findings of a study that focused on the modeling of the logic of building construction schedules and particularly activity dependencies. The work resulted in a scheduling model that provides a theoretical framework for the development of scheduling tools and computer programs. The main features of the new model are the following: (1) Support for strategic, early planning decisions and the systematic preparation of schedules; (2) generic procedures that enable the automatic generation of initial schedules; (3) representations for better understanding of the construction process at the project level; and (4) means to obtain specific reports explaining the logic of a schedule. This model is based on the qualitative modeling approach, findings from the literature, and fieldwork conducted within construction companies. The model has been successfully implemented and tested in the form of a computer program.