Fuzzy simulation of flexible construction processes

This paper presents an incorporation of discrete-event simulation and fuzzy logic to model uncertainties in construction processes, i.e. flexible resource demand to activate an activity and flexible activity duration depending on the concrete resource quantities. The uncertain demand on resources is modelled with fuzzy set in linguistic term. The fuzzy logic if-then rule is built to control the activation of activities. The activity duration that varies with the involved quantities of resources is generated through the fuzzy logic reasoning. An activity scanning (AS) based diagram and a type of graphic fuzzy element assist in incorporating and implementing above fuzzy logic approach for the fuzzy construction simulation system. Through the application of the fuzzy construction simulation system, an illustrative example is presented to demonstrate the effect of considering these uncertainties on the productivity.