1. Proceedings
  2. I3M
  3. 2019
  4. MAS
  5. 10.46354/i3m.2019.mas.016

An integrated simulation-based construction crew allocation and trade-off with energy and carbon footprint

  • a Hadia Awad  , 
  • b Mustafa Gül  , 
  • c Osama Mohsen  , 
  • d Simaan AbouRizk  
  •  
  • abcd Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
Cite as
Awad H., Gül M., Mohsen O., AbouRizk S. (2019). An integrated simulation-based construction crew allocation and trade-off with energy and carbon footprint. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Modelling and Applied Simulation (MAS 2019), pp. 117-126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46354/i3m.2019.mas.016
 Download PDF

Abstract

On-site construction in winter consumes a considerable amount of energy and emits a significant volume of greenhouse gases, especially in cold regions. It has been reported that on-site winter heating accounts for 34% of carbon emissions of the framing phase for panelized house construction. In this paper, in order to quantify and analyze carbon emissions from on-site construction, the on-site panelized construction process is simulated in a combined discrete and continuous event simulation model based on which the possibility of reducing activity durations are investigated for the aim of reducing emissions. The integrated simulation methodology is demonstrated using case studies in Edmonton, Canada. Carbon emission which includes propane consumption for winter heating and diesel consumption for on-site mobile equipment and vehicles is calculated. Historical temperature data is analyzed to simulate weather behavior. Results show that on-site heating is the largest contributor to carbon emissions in panelized construction.

References

  1. AbouRizk S., Halpin D., Mohamed Y., Hermann U., (2011)," Research in Modeling and Simulation for Improving Construction Engineering Operations."Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 843-852.
  2. AbouRizk S., Halpin D., (1990), "Probabilistic Simulation Studies For Repetitive Construction
    Processes." Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 575-594.
  3. AbouRizk S., Halpin D., (1992), "Statistical Properties of Construction Duration Data." Journal of
    Construction Engineering and Management, 525-544.
  4. Altaf M., Liu H., Al-Hussein M., (2015). “Online Simulation Modeling of Prefabricated Wall Panel
    Production Using RFID System.” Proceedings of the 2015 Winter Simulation Conference, pp. 3379-3390. December 6-9, Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/WSC.2015.7408499
  5. Balci O., Sargent R.G. (1982a). ”Validation of multivariate response simulation models by using
    Hotellig's two-sample T2 test”. Simulation 39(6):185-192.
  6. Balci O., Sargent R.G. (1982b). “Some examples of simulation model validation using hypothesis testing”. Proceedings of the 1982 Winter Simulation Conference 620-629.
  7. Balci O., Sargent R.G. (1984a). “A bibliography on the credibility assessment and validation of
    simulation and mathematical models”. Simuletter 15(3):15-27.
  8. Banks, Jerry, and John S. Carson, (1996), "Discrete-event System Simulation". 2nd ed. Upper
    Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
  9. Chini, A., Shrivastava, S. (2011). “Estimating Energy Consumption During Construction Of
    Buildings: A Contractor’s Perspective.”. Proceedings of the World Sustainable Building Conference, Helsinki, Finland, Oct. 18-21, pp. 3815-3824.
  10. Dodoo A. (2011). Life Cycle Primary Energy Use and Carbon Emission of Residential Buildings. Doctoral Thesis. Östersund, Sweden","Ecotechnology and Environmental Science, Mid Sweden University.
  11. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2019) Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators:Greenhouse gas emissions. Retrieved on June 30, 2019. Available at: www.canada.ca/en/environmentclimatechange/services/environmentalindicators/greenhousegas-emissions.html
  12. Esfahani, N.M., (2013). “Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Pre-panelized Construction Process”.Master dissertation, University of Alberta.
  13. Friedman, A. (1992)." Prefabrication vs Conventional Construction in Single-Family Wood-
    Frame Housing". Building Research and Information,2:4, 226-28.
  14. Friedman A., Cammalleri V. (1992). "Prefabricated Wall Systems and the North American
    Home Building Industry". School of Architecture, McGill University.
  15. Ginter Inc. (1991)."Comparative Evaluation of Factory Built House Construction Methods vis-avis the Traditional Construction Method on Site". Report prepared for La Société d'habitation du Québec and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Montreal.
  16. Golabchi, A., Han, S., AbouRizk, S. (2018). “A simulation and visualization-based framework of labor efficiency and safety analysis for prevention through design and planning”, Automation in Construction, Volume 96, Pages 310-323.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.10.001
  17. Gonzalez, M.J. and Garcia, N.J. (2006). "Assessment of the decrease of CO2 emissions in the
    construction field through the selection of materials".Practical case study of three houses of low environmental impact. Building and Environment 4: 902-909.
  18. Hajjar D., AbouRizk A. (1996), “Building a Special Purposes Simulation Tool for Earth Moving
    Operations”. Proceedings of the 1996 Winter Simulation Conference, 1313-1320.
  19. Li Hong, Naseri Esfehani M., Gul M., Yu H., Mah D., Al-Hussein M., (2014), “Carbon Footprint of
    Panelized Construction: An Empirical and Comparative Study “. Construction Research Congress, 2014, 494-503.
  20. Ismail, A., Srewil, Y. and Scherer, R.J. (2017). “Integrated and collaborative process-based simulation framework for construction project planning”, Int. J. Simulation and Process Modelling, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp.42–53. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSPM.2017.082789
  21. Kawecki L.R., (2010), “Environmental Performance of Modular Fabrication: Calculating the
    Carbon Footprint of Energy Used in the Construction of a Modular Home “. Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University.
  22. Mohsen, O., Abdollahnejad, S., Sajadfar, N., Mohamed, Y., AbouRizk, S. (2018). “Modeling and
    Simulation of Cabinet Manufacturing Processes: evaluation and recommended controls.” Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Modelling and Applied Simulation (MAS), September 17-19, Budapest, Hungary.
  23. Mohsen O.M., Knytl P.J., Abdulaal B., Olearczyk J., and Al-Hussein, M. (2008). “Simulation of modular building construction” Proceedings of the 2008 Winter Simulation Conference, Austin, TX, pp. 2471-2478.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/WSC.2008.4736356
  24. Mah, D. (2007). “Analysis of Material Waste from the Framing Stage in Residential Construction Based on Landmark Homes Field Investigation”. Field Report, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  25. Nance, R. E. (1995), "Simulation Pogromming Languages: An Abridged History“, Proceedings of the 1995 Winter Simulation Conference, X. Alexopoulos, K. Kang, W. R. Lilegdon, and D. Goldsman, eds., Arlington, VA, Dec. 13-16,pp. 1307-1313.
  26. Naseri Esfahani M., (2013). “Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Pre-panelized Construction Process”. Master dissertation, University of Alberta.
  27. Palaniappan S., (2009). ”Environmental performance of on-site construction processes in posttensioned slab foundation construction”. A study of production home building in the greater Phoenix area. Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University.
  28. “Quality, Speed and Cost”, (2014), Retrieved April, 17, 2015 from http://ihhwc2014.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/S18-Modular-and-Container-Housing-by-Kathleen-Maynard.pdf
  29. RazaviAlavi S and AbouRizk S. (2017). "Site layout and construction plan optimization using an
    integrated genetic algorithm simulation framework." Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 31(4).
    https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000653
  30. Sargent R.G. (2003)." Verification and validation of simulation models" Proceedings of the 2003 Winter Simulation Conference. Chick S., Sinchez P.J., Ferrin D., Morrice D.J.,eds.
  31. Schlesinger et al. (1979). “Terminology for model credibility”. Simulation, 32(3):103-104.
  32. Suzuki M., Oka, T., and Okada, K. (1995). "The estimation of energy consumption and CO2 emission due to housing construction in Japan". Energy and Buildings 22: 165-169.
  33. “The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect.” (2011). In the Discovery of Global Warming. Retrieved April,5, 2015 from http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm
  34. “The Greenhouse Effect.” (2012). In Canada’s Action on Climate Change. Retrieved April, 5, 2015 from http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=F2DB1FBE-1,
    http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=1A0305D5-1,
    http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=21654B36-1
  35. “The Panelized Process.” (2007) Retrieved April, 5, 2015 from
    http://www.canadiantimber.ca/process.html# Upton B., Miner R., Spinney M., and Heath L. S.
    (2008). “The greenhouse gas and energy impacts of using wood instead of alternatives in residential construction in the United States”. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32(1), 1-10.
  36. “The Panelized Process.” (2007) Retrieved April, 5, 2015 from http://www.canadiantimber.ca/process.html# Upton B., Miner R., Spinney M., and Heath L. S.
    (2008). “The greenhouse gas and energy impacts of using wood instead of alternatives in residential construction in the United States”. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32(1), 1-10.