Server-Client applications aided by generic simulations regarding earthmoving operations in Civil Engineering projects

Simulation is a powerful tool whose potential has not been fully explored and applied within the Civil Engineering context. Despite Discrete Event Simulation benefits and capabilities, its complex and time consuming elaboration makes it an unpractical choice along this field. This article shows an example regarding earthmoving operations in Civil Engineer projects reflecting how simulation models can be easily and quickly deployed fitting customer needs and requirements. By Transforming simulation models into specific purpose applications remotely simulated barriers such as knowledge, experience, time and software restrictions are fulfilled delivering simulation benefits remotely. The goal of this work was to create a Web based application to support the decision making process in the construction management field. This work was achieved by integrating the Arena software as the remote simulation engine with Visual Basic as a programming platform used to build up the infrastructure needed to manage a Server-Client Based Simulation system.