Analyzing transit tunnel construction strategies using discrete event simulation

Selection of an appropriate construction strategy for a project is one of the challenges faced in the planning stage. It is essential to choose a suitable method that can reduce cost, time, and any disruption in the area, especially for projects in urban areas. The management group must consider possible techniques, test various scenarios using those techniques, calculate the associated cost and time, and determine the most desirable solution. In this research, a simulation based approach was used to assist the management group in choosing the best strategy for construction of a transit tunnel project in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A discrete event simulation tool was developed to model a Sequential Excavating method using either shotcrete or rib and lagging as preliminary supporting systems. The tool enables users to create simulation models for different methods and calculate total duration, resource utilization, and cost of the project. The results comparison is demonstrated in this paper.