Ren-Jye Dzeng

Integration of Simulation-Based Cost Model and Multi-Criteria Evaluation Model for Bid Price Decisions

Several criteria affect bidding decisions. Cur- rent bidding models determine a markup based on a fixed project construction cost. This work presents a novel bid price determination procedure that is built by integrating a simulation-based cost model and a multi-criteria eval- uation model. The cost model is used to consider cost uncertainties and generate a bid price cumulative distri- bution, whereas the multi-criteria evaluation model ap- plies pairwise comparisons and fuzzy integrals to reflect bidder preferences regarding decision criteria. The rela- tionship between the two models is based on a practi- cal phenomenon in that a bidder has a high probability of winning when criteria evaluations favor his bid, and, consequently, the bidder would bid a low price, and vice versa. The merits of the proposed procedure are demon- strated by its application to two construction projects in Taiwan.

Activity and value orientated decision support for the development planning of a theme park

The development of a large theme park usually includes multiple phases. The combination and development ordering of facilities in these phases have a great impact on the attractiveness of the theme park. Examples of such facilities are attractions, food service, accommodation, and supporting facilities. Some of these facilities although highly profitable, cannot attract visitors on their own, while others may boost the visitor count, yet by themselves do not make a profit. This research considers the values that each development activity brings to the project, and prioritizes feasible alternatives based on their net present values. Based on the integration of simulation and the genetic algorithm, a decision support system has been developed to determine the combination and ordering of facilities, and the resources needed for each development step. This development plan will provide investors with systematic and quantitative information that will help them to determine the development portfolio of each facility under the constraint of the funding program.

Building a construction procurement negotiation training game model: Learning experiences and outcomes

Game-based education is a promising method for encouraging student learning. Although learning construction procurement and negotiation require hands-on practice, in most construction management courses at the college level, this subject is taught by using lectures and case studies. In this study, a construction procurement and negotiation game was developed, and paper-based and web-based versions were implemented. The game enables students to play the role of contractors or suppliers and generate profits by negotiating and procuring or selling reinforcing steel in a simulated market with a probabilistic nature. The experimental results indicate that playing both versions of the game increased student learning motivation, satisfaction and outcomes. Students awarded the web-based game higher assessment scores than they did for the paper-based game. Students playing either version of the game also achieved higher test scores than students who were taught using the traditional approach did. However, for students with work experience, playing the paper-based game resulted in higher scores than the web-based game scores.

An analysis of infrastructure development based on national competitiveness perspectives

Development of the infrastructure is one of the key factors in determining the competitiveness of a nation. Most world competitiveness reports include infrastructure development as a primary set of indicators in assessing the competitiveness of nations. We ranked the indicators based on their performances in terms of not only standard deviations but also leading and falling‐behind groups classified by the cluster analysis. The discriminant competitiveness graphic‐based representation of the indicator performance allowed policy makers to formulate infrastructure strategies. Simulated experiments based on the competitiveness data of Canada, Taiwan and Thailand also demonstrated that such ranking resulted in a better selection of weak indicators for improvement.

Applying cluster identification algorithm and simulation to generate probabilistic network schedules for design projects

Scheduling of a design project is complex because design activities often have information dependencies between each other. This study proposes a network‐based model to schedule design projects and generate probabilistic project durations. The proposed model applies a modified cluster identification algorithm to evaluate information dependencies between design activities to facilitate the establishment of a schedule network (and regroup activities to support the assignment of design work); it also uses a simulation approach to incorporate the effect on duration of the uncertain number of design iterations. The model is implemented in four stages, which are breaking down the design work; evaluating the dependencies; identifying concurrent activities; and estimating the durations of activities and simulating the duration of design project. The advantages of the proposed model are demonstrated through its application to an example project, which was reviewed by industrial practitioners. Practitioners felt that the generated detailed scheduling data could help them to control their design work more precisely than a bar chart. Additionally, the simulated probabilistic project duration provided them with an awareness of the risk involved in meeting the contractual deadline.

Decision Making Behaviors in Planning Green Buildings

A green building is an outcome of a design philosophy which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use. This paper presents a conceptual model in simulating the risk behaviors of decision makers in influencing the decision making of selecting green building designs by using 3 difference processes including benefit-cost analysis, multi-criteria decision-making, and Nash equilibrium game. The proposed approach allows the project owner and the consultant to assess the green building cost and effectiveness of performance for different design alternatives during the early design stage. A two-person nonzero sum game is considered in this paper to model the interactions between both players with respect their different utilities and different risk behaviors. The results of the case study show the consultant plays an important role in influencing the developer¡¯s choice of selecting a desirable green building design alternative.

Design of Track Alignment Using Building Information Modeling

In recent decades, the spreadsheet and computer-aided mapping are the major tools for track alignment design. These traditional methods can meet the design criteria, but when the design factors and the change order must be satisfied at the same time, the process is always complicated and redundant. Building information modeling (BIM) is mainly applied on the generation and management of building data. It utilizes the object-oriented concept to increase the efficiency of information management in the building life cycle. The track-alignment data also have topographic relation that is similar to the building. There is a much closer relation between the topological, sharp, and position of track entities than that of the building components. This paper discusses the feasibility of applying a real-time, dynamic, three-dimensional building information model to design the alignment; compares the traditional alignment method with the BIM alignment method to find out the differences; and analyzes the precision by ...

A hybrid system for planning the development level of resort

In todays world, a resort is a popular place that provides not only relaxation and recreation but also beautiful surroundings, high quality food, even facilities to exercise and do other healthy activities. Planning the development level is one of the more important processes in a resort development project. However, planners often subjectively overestimate the project or cater to the preferences of the investors, resulting in an over-developed or imbalanced development. This paper provides a system that helps the planner to search for near-optimal amenity development level. Integrating genetic algorithms and simulation, it employs a dual-loop optimization model to propose advice to be used in the planning stage. Because the complex and dynamic analysis is done by the system instead of by the planner, it speeds up the decision-making process of the planning stage.

Conceptual cost estimations using neuro-fuzzy and multi-factor evaluation methods for building projects

AbstractDuring the conceptual phase of a construction project, numerous uncertainties make accurate cost estimation challenging. This work develops a new model to calculate conceptual costs of building projects for effective cost control. The proposed model integrates four mathematical techniques (sub-models), namely, (1) the component ratios sub-model, fuzzy adaptive learning control network (FALCON) and fast messy genetic algorithm (fmGA) based sub-model, (2) regression sub-model, and (4) multi-factor evaluation sub-model. While the FALCON- and fmGA-based sub-model trains the historical cost data, three other sub-models assess the inputs systematically to estimate the cost of a new project. This study also closely examines the behavior of the proposed model by evaluating two modified models without considering fmGA and undertaking sensitivity analysis. Evaluation results indicate that, with the ability to more thoroughly respond to the project characteristics, the proposed model has a high probability o...

Function-space assignment and movement simulation model for building renovation

AbstractBuilding renovation is an effective way to revive the use of a building, the use efficiency of which is primarily determined by its layout. However, in architectural practice, architects and building owners renovate buildings based on their personal subjective perceptions of how occupants use the building instead of systematically analyzing their use behaviors. This study proposes a model, called the Function-space Assignment and MOvement Simulation (FAMOS) model, which integrates radio frequency identification (RFID), fast messy genetic algorithms (fmGA), and movement simulation techniques to solve the function-space assignment problem. The RFID equipment is specifically used to track the occupants’ movement data in a building, the fmGA is employed to identify the optimal result of function assignment, and the movement simulation technique is adopted to verify the result and support the decision-making of function-space assignment. This study presents a real case study to demonstrate the use of F...