TECHNICAL PAPERS
Dec 1, 1992

SightPlan Model for Site Layout

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 118, Issue 4

Abstract

A model that uses artificial intelligence programming techniques is presented as a new tool for layout designers. This model, named SightPlan, represents the layout process as well as the layout product. A description of the knowledge and problem‐solving method is given of the SightPlan system that mimics the actions of a human layout designer. SightPlan lays out temporary facilities, represented as rectangles, on a construction site, represented as a two‐dimensional space. An early‐commitment strategy and spatial constraint satisfaction techniques are used to find unique positions for facilities among those already in place. An example run in which SightPlan is applied to a case‐study project illustrates how the program operates in stand‐alone mode. SightPlan demonstrates that knowledge‐based systems can successfully address problems not adequately modeled until now and, thus, opens up a new way of thinking about computer‐aided decision support for the construction industry. The present system is a prototype, however. Additional work must be done before SightPlan will be ready for field use and useful to field practitioners.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Boltz, D. H., and Molinski, J. (1987). “Computer scheduling: On line and on time.” Civ. Engrg., 57(6), 56–58.
2.
Cleveland, A. B. Jr. (1990). “Real‐time animation of construction activities.” Excellence in the Constructed Project, Proc. Constr. Congress I, R. J. Bard, ed., ASCE, New York, N.Y., 238–243.
3.
Confrey, T., and Hayes‐Roth, B. (1990). “Knowledge‐based strategy generalization.” Report KSL 89‐45, Stanford Univ., Knowledge Systems Lab., Stanford, Calif.
4.
Dressel, G. (1963). Arbeitstechnische Merkblätter für den Baubetrieb. Forschungsgemeinschaft Bauen und Wohnen, IFA‐Verlag Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, 3.
5.
Englemore, R., and Morgan, T., eds. (1988). Blackboard systems. Addison‐Wesley, Reading, Mass.
6.
Feigenbaum, E. A. (1977). “The art of artificial intelligence: Themes and case studies of knowledge engineering.” Proc. Int. Joint Conf. on Artificial Intelligence, Morgan Kaufmann, Los Altos, Calif.
7.
Fisher, E. L. (1984). “Knowledge‐based facilities design,” PhD thesis, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, Ind.
8.
Francis, R. L., and White, J. A. (1974). Facility layout and location. Prentice‐Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
9.
Gans, A., and Hayes‐Roth, B. (1990). “NEWWATCH: Learning interrupted strategies by observing action.” Report 89‐44, Stanford Univ., Knowledge Systems Lab., Stanford, Calif.
10.
Hamiani, A. (1987). “CONSITE: A knowledge‐based expert system framework for construction site layout,” PhD thesis, Univ. of Texas, at Austin, Texas.
11.
Handa, V., and Lang, B. (1988). “Construction site planning.” Constr. Canada, 88(5), 43–49.
12.
Handa, V., and Lang, B. (1989). “Construction site efficiency.” Constr. Canada, 89(1), 40–48.
13.
Hayes‐Roth, B. (1985). “A blackboard architecture for control.” Artificial Intelligence, 26, 251–321.
14.
Henderson, E. M. (1976). “The use of scale models in construction management.” Tech. Report No. 213, Stanford Univ., Constr. Inst., Stanford, Calif.
15.
Hewett, M. (1988). “BBI User Manual—2.1 Update (Common LISP).” Report KSL 86‐61a, Stanford Univ., Knowledge Systems Lab., Stanford, Calif.
16.
Hollnagel, E., Mancini, G., and Woods, D. D., eds. (1986). Intelligent Decision Support in Process Environments. Springer‐Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
17.
Kusiak, A., and Heragu, S. S. (1987). “The facility layout problem.” European J. of Operations Res., 29, 229–251.
18.
Neil, J. M. (1980). “Teaching site layout for construction.” Proc. ASCE Convention and Exposition, ASCE, New York, N.Y.
19.
Neil, J. M. (1982). Stream‐electric generating station construction. M‐K Power Group, Boise, Id., 7‐11–7‐29.
20.
Popescu, C. (1980). “Temporary facilities‐utilities designing steps.” Proc. ASCE Convention and Exposition, ASCE, New York, N.Y.
21.
Rad, P. F. (1982). “A graphic approach to construction job‐site planning.” Cost Engrg., 24(4), 211–217.
22.
Rad, P. F., and James, B. M. (1983). “The layout of temporary construction facilities.” Cost Engrg., 25(2), 19–26.
23.
Reinhardt, W. G. (1987). “Powerplant rebuilds confidence: Intermountain's coalfired units are a technical and financial success.” ENR, 218(5), 24–28.
24.
Reinschmidt, K. F., and Zabilski, R. J. (1990). “Applications of computer graphics in construction.” Excellence in the constructed project, Proc. Constr. Congress I, R. J. Bard, ed., ASCE, New York, N.Y., 137–142.
25.
Rodriguez‐Ramos, W. E. (1982). “Quantitative techniques for construction site layout planning,” PhD thesis, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
26.
Scriabin, R. C., and Vergin, R. C. (1975). “Comparison of computer algorithms and visual based methods for plant layout.” Mgmt. Sci., 22(2), 172–181.
27.
Tatum, C. B., and Harris, J. A. (1981). “Construction plant requirements for nuclear sites.” J. Constr. Div., ASCE, 107(4), 543–550.
28.
Tommelein, I. D. (1989). “SightPlan—An expert system that models and augments human decision‐making for designing construction site layouts,” PhD thesis, Stanford Univ., at Stanford, Calif.
29.
Tommelein, I. D. (1992). “Constructing site lay outs using blackboard reasoning with layered knowledge.” Expert systems for civil engineers: Knowledge representation, R. H. Allen, ed., ASCE, New York, N.Y.
30.
Tommelein, I. D., Hayes‐Roth, B., and Levitt, R. E. (1992a). “Altering the SightPlan knowledge‐based Systems.” J. Artif. Intell. Engrg., Design, Manufacturing, 6(1), 19–37.
31.
Tommelein, I. D., Johnson, M. V., Jr., Hayes‐Roth, B., and Levitt, R. E. (1987a). “SIGHTPLAN: A blackboard expert system for construction site layout.” Expert systems in computer‐aided design, J. S. Gero, ed., North‐Holland, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 153–167.
32.
Tommelein, I. D., Levitt, R. E., and Hayes‐Roth, B. (1987b). “Using expert systems for the layout of temporary facilities on construction sites.” Managing Construction Worldwide, Vol. 1, Systems for Managing Construction, P. R. Lansley, and P. A. Harlow, eds., E. & F. N. Spon, London, England, 566–577.
33.
Tommelein, I. D., Levitt, R. E., and Hayes‐Roth, B. (1992b). “Site layout modeling: How can artificial intelligence help?” J. Constr. Engrg. Mgmt., ASCE, 118(3), 594–611.
34.
Tommelein, I. D., Levitt, R. E., Hayes‐Roth, B., and Confrey, T. (1991). “SightPlan experiments: Alternate strategies for site layout design.” J. Comput. Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 5(1), 42–63.
35.
Tompkins, J. A., and White, J. A. (1984). Facilities planning. John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.
36.
Vollman, T. E., and Buffa, E. S. (1966). “The facilities layout problem in perspective.” Mgmt. Sci., 12(10), B‐450–B‐468.
37.
Weidemier, J. (1986). “Layout of power station construction sites.” Proc. ESAA Conf., The Queensland Electricity Commission, Australia, 6B.1–6B.9.
38.
Woods, D. D. (1986). “Cognitive technologies: The design of joint human‐machine cognitive systems.” AI Mag., 6(4), 86–92.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 118Issue 4December 1992
Pages: 749 - 766

History

Published online: Dec 1, 1992
Published in print: Dec 1992

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

I. D. Tommelein, Associate Member, ASCE
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Civ. and Envir. Engrg., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109‐2125
R. E. Levitt, Member, ASCE
Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., and Assoc. Dir., Ctr. for Integrated Facility Engrg., Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA 94305‐4020
B. Hayes‐Roth
Sr. Res. Assoc., Dept. of Computer Sci., Knowledge Systems Lab., Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA 94305‐1070

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share