The Power of Technology in Bridge Construction Project Management

Abstract

Bridge construction projects are inherently complex and iterative, and these place great demands on project management to apply innovative approaches for more comprehensive analysis of performance data under uncertain conditions. Although new technological-based methods such as simulation have proven to be powerful techniques to cope with cyclic and uncertain project behaviours, implementation of simulation-based modeling is below par in the construction domain especially in bridge construction. This paper presents information on significant role of recent modeling methods in the construction domain. The study is an aspect of wider research that explores capabilities of simulation-based methods in scheduling and managing of construction projects in New Zealand by considering their repetitive, uncertain and complex features. The study design and data collection are briefly described to demonstrate the power of simulation technology in bridge construction management. It is hoped that the study will benefit both construction planners and managers.