A graph-based model for the identification of the impact of design changes

In many construction projects, design changes cause unexpected deviations from the client objectives. Project teams currently often find it difficult to identify in advance what the impact of a proposed change will be. The present research demonstrates that the use of graph-based algorithms can help project teams to identify which elements will be affected by a proposed change. The algorithms are applied in graph-based model using readily available information. A clustering algorithm identifies the elements that will be directly affected by a proposed change. A path-search algorithm identifies the possible indirect impact on different aspects of the project. The results of tests that were carried out with the model indicate its feasibility. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.