A hybrid simulation framework for modelling construction projects using agent-based modelling and system dynamics: an application to model construction workers' safety behavior

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe integration of system dynamics (SD) with ideas from agent-based modelling (ABM) offers potential to combine the strengths of the two methodologies. By investigation of the previous research works, it is revealed that there is a lack of a simple and applicable framework to develop a hybrid SD–ABM simulation approach. This research proposes a hybrid SD–ABM simulation framework for modelling construction projects. The dynamics of project environment arising from the complex interrelated structure of various influencing continuous factors are taken into account using SD. The complexity of the system emerges from the interactions between different agents is also accounted by ABM. The SD and ABM simulation paradigms are finally combined. To evaluate the performance of the proposed hybrid simulation framework, it is implemented in a real construction project. The safety behaviour of different working groups involved in the project is modelled using the proposed hybrid simulation framework. The influence of safety behaviour of different working groups on the project performance is finally assessed. The achieved simulation results show how the value of unsafe behaviour of different agents is varied throughout the project duration due to the interactions with other agents as well as the safety-related regulations that exist in the site.