The Use of Computer Simulation in Preparation of Construction Works Carried Out by Helicopters

Abstract

When constructing buildings on challenging terrain or in densely built urban areas, the potential of conventional “ground” construction technology is insufficient. In this case, a building can be constructed with the assistance of helicopters. The preparation of construction processes carried out by helicopters must respect the effects of randomly changing construction conditions, mainly weather, as well as specific helicopter working conditions. Weather conditions significantly affect helicopter parameters, especially its most important value in the construction technology – the maximum load capacity. The helicopter load is therefore not constant but it “changes in time”. The complexity of this system can be modelled by using simulation models. The built-in model should allow us to investigate the behaviour of construction processes under realistic conditions and to evaluate the proposed structure of the process based on the required criteria. This presented article deals with the conceptual design of the simulation model of the helicopter-aided construction process, including the design of the simulation scheme. The key part of the simulation model, taking into account future weather conditions at the construction site, is designed in several steps with gradual approximation using various numerical weather prediction models. Partial work results suggest that although construction production is characterized by several specific features suitable for the use of simulation methods, to date, the simulation approach, up to a few exceptions, is not used. For this reason, it is the primary objective of this research to verify the suitability of simulation modelling in the preparation of building construction, thereby creating the conditions for eventual use of simulation models in building practice as well. Processing this topic belongs to the area of interdisciplinary research, so in the future the presented methodology could be also used outside the construction sector, especially in logistics in general.