Monte Carlo Technique with Correlated Random Variables
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 118, Issue 2
Abstract
In this paper the impact of correlation among cost components on the total cost variance of a construction project is analyzed. The Monte Carlo simulation approach for project risk analysis is reviewed and the problems with implementing this technique is described. Specifically, issues related to the type of the underlying cost distributions and existing correlations between cost items are explored. One suggested methodology for generating correlated random numbers in a simulation environment is reviewed. A multivariate lognormal distribution is used to generate correlated random numbers for various construction cost components. A large, real‐life data set is used to show the implementation of the suggested method and the results of the analysis are analyzed. It is shown that the proposed method is capable of predicting the variance of the total cost with good accuracy. Some guidelines for future research in this area are presented.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 118 • Issue 2 • June 1992
Pages: 258 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1992
Published in print: Jun 1992
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