Modeling concurrent operational interruptions in construction activities with simplified discrete event simulation approach (SDESA)

Numerous previous applications have demonstrated the high potential of discrete simulation methodologies in designing and analyzing construction systems. Still, construction simulation applications largely remain software exercises at the academic level because of the time and effort as required in constructing a valid simulation model that matches the real processes and operations. This paper introduces an enhanced version of the simplified discrete event simulation approach (SDESA) by incorporating a concurrent interruptions model, which is intended to make construction simulations more realistic without compromising the simplicity of the original SDESA. Particular emphasis is placed on how to model the effects of operational interruptions upon the system performance by applying SDESA. The well-established CYCLONE method acts as a cross-validation tool to check the results given by SDESA. And the validity and simplicity of SDESA modeling are illustrated with a simple earthmoving operation simulation and a real hoist and barrow concreting operation simulation.