Classical Planning Model‐Based Approach to Automating Construction Planning on Earthwork Projects

Abstract

AbstractExtensive research in automated operation planning has led to significant advances in the area of robotics. Theories and methods resulting from robotics have yet to be adapted to enable automated project planning in construction engineering. Aiming to demonstrate the potential of implementing automated planning theory and methods in construction project planning, we developed an automated earthwork planner prototype following the principles and framework of classical planning model in computer science. As time is not explicitly represented, implementing classical planning model to perform optimization and planning simultaneously results in potential temporal–spatial conflicts (TSCs). The present research develops a two‐step approach to separate operations optimization and earthwork planning in typical rough grading projects. As such, TSCs encountered in existing mathematical programming based earthwork planning methods are resolved. To enable fully integrated and automated earthwork planning, the prototype system has been seamlessly integrated with project scheduling and operations simulation software for higher level analyses. To demonstrate advantages of the automated planning methodology, construction plans were independently produced by 14 graduate student teams on the same “testbed” project; results were evaluated and compared with the plan generated by the proposed system.