A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992

In this study, a knowledge-based integrated system to schedule high-rise building construction, is developed by using the Line-of-Balance technology assisted by an expert system. Reviewing the recent literature on the techniques available for scheduling and controlling construction projects of repetitive nature, it is found that bar charts are inadequate and that there are serious problems with using network methods in such circumstances. There is evidence that the construction of high-rise building has a highly repetitive nature but differs in some respects from other repetitive projects such as pipelines or pavement construction. Four new concepts have been introduced into line-of-balance methodology to accommodate the special condition encountered in high-rise building construction. These concepts are "Flexible Unit Network" concept and three concepts on "Multi-Level LOB Diagram". This information has been programmed into a scheduling module (LOBPLANS) . A series of databases have been compiled regarding the productivity of resources. An expert system (LOBEX) has been developed to facilitate decision making at network generation level. The scheduling module, the databases, and the expert system have been organized into an integrated system (CHRISS} by means of communication and command routines that interface between the modules and user input. A 16-storey building project has been used in testing CHRISS' performance. The integrated system proved to be a user-friendly, reliable, and valuable software that can assist a user in preparing data and generating network schedules for high-rise building construction.