Ferramenta computacional para apoio ao planejamento e elaboração do leiaute de canteiro de obras.

Abstract

This research aims to contribute to construction site layout planning by the use of computer resources applied to the decision-making process and to the visualization of the spatial distribution of the elements needed for the construction activities. The planning of the construction site layout is very often done by professionals who rely only on their experience gained throughout professional life, without using IT resources, which are widely used in other industries. This research aims to show that the application of computer resources for tracking data on material storage and consumption, besides the visualization of spaces available for the elements of construction, will lead to a construction site design process that requires a lower abstraction level from the planner and will facilitate the layout update during the execution. Thus, the conception of a tool that could join all the necessary information in a single environment with visual support for making decisions about the site layout was started. A special concern was to avoid abrupt changes in the way engineers design because it is believed that new tools that change their usual cognitive process for solving problems could lead these professionals to not using them. The information obtained with planning made with MS Project – popular planning software used in the country is used as initial input data for the system. This tool brought other innovations like: possibility of splitting the period of the construction in phases in accordance with the developed activities (as recommended in relevant literature), integration of the information necessary for planning in a single environment with graphics to support stock control and purchasing of materials; interactive visual support for allocating elements in the construction site area. As a result, it was obtained a simplified tool with straightforward use, available on the Internet, to support the professionals who plan the construction site, contributing to improve the results of the building process and facilitating the analysis of the information involved in it. The innovations were tested with planning professionals when was evaluated the feasibility of the adoption of the system by the visited construction companies and a possible interest of the construction market in a product with the demonstrated characteristics which facilitate the development and update of the site layout during construction.