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Ci a ion: Mo yˇcka, V.; Gašpa ík, J.;
Pˇ ibyl, O.; Š ˇe ba, M.; Hoˇ ínko á, D.;
Kan o á, R. E ec i e Use o Towe
C anes o e Time in he Selec ed
Cons uc ion P ocess. Buildings 2022,
12, 436. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/
buildings12040436
Academic Edi o : Syed M. Ahmed
Recei ed: 17 Janua y 2022
Accep ed: 23 Ma ch 2022
Published: 2 Ap il 2022
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Copy igh : © 2022 by he au ho s.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Swi ze land.
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A ibu ion (CC BY) license (h ps://
c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/
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buildings
A icle
E ec i e Use o Towe C anes o e Time in he Selec ed
Cons uc ion P ocess
Ví Mo yˇcka 1, Joze Gašpa ík2,* , O o Pˇ ibyl 1, Ma in Š ˇe ba 1, Di a Hoˇ ínko á1and Radka Kan o á1
1Depa men o Technology, Mechaniza ion and Cons uc ion Managemen , Facul y o Ci il Enginee ing,
B no Uni e si y o Technology, 602 00 B no, Czech Republic; [email p o ec ed].cz (V.M.);
[email p o ec ed].cz (O.P.); [email p o ec ed].cz (M.Š.); [email p o ec ed].cz (D.H.);
[email p o ec ed].cz (R.K.)
2Depa men o Building Technology, Facul y o Ci il Enginee ing, Slo ak Uni e si y o Technology in
B a isla a, 810 05 B a isla a, Slo akia
*Co espondence: [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +421-905-280-200
Abs ac :
The quali y o p epa a ions ca ied ou be o e building wo k commences has a signi ican
impac on he smoo h unning and o e all inancial cos s o a cons uc ion p ojec . The use o
cons uc ion machine y, which is c ucial wi h ega d o he e iciency o he cons uc ion p ocess,
plays an impo an ole. In building cons uc ion, he machines in ques ion a e mainly owe c anes.
The pape p esen s a new me hod o assessing he u ilisa ion o owe c anes o e ime du ing
he cons uc ion o ein o ced conc e e monoli hic s uc u es. The me hod, which con ibu es o
he e icien u ilisa ion o such c anes, is based on a ma hema ical simula ion model ha p edic s
he wo k cycles o a owe c ane du ing a wo k shi when wo k is being pe o med on indi idual
cons uc ion sub-p ocesses. Cons uc ion sub-p ocesses a e analysed in de ail wi h ega d o he
se ice p o ided o hem by a owe c ane. Da a can also be ob ained om binding cons uc ion
schedules and bounda y condi ions, which in e e y case a e o a speci ic execu ed cons uc ion
p ojec . The simula ion model o he wo k o owe c anes has been de eloped o use in so wa e
applica ions. The c ea ed applica ion expands he possibili ies o sma cons uc ion si e design in a
digi al en i onmen and can also be used di ec ly om an in e ne b owse .
Keywo ds: p e-cons uc ion phase; owe c ane; owe c ane design; sma cons uc ion si e
1. In oduc ion
The quali y o p epa a ions ca ied ou be o e cons uc ion wo k commences is an
impo an p econdi ion o he success o a building p ojec [
1
]. E e -inc easing emphasis is
now being placed on sus ainabili y in cons uc ion, bo h in e ms o he inal p oduc and in
ela ion o he cou se o he cons uc ion p ocess [
2
]. Economic and en i onmen al sus ain-
abili y in he cons uc ion indus y is connec ed wi h cons uc ion echniques and spa ial
equi emen s a he cons uc ion si e. These a e signi ican ly ela ed o he cons uc ion
pe iod, which a ec s he inancial cos s o he cons uc ion p ocess and nega i ely a ec s
he en i onmen in he icini y o he building si e [
3
]. Pollu ion occu s in adjacen a eas,
as does he inc eased dus iness, con amina ion o he soil wi h oil p oduc s, inc eased noise
le els, inc eased a ic a ound he building si e, and he o en unnecessa ily la ge-scale
and long-las ing occupa ion o a eas by he cons uc ion si e, all o which ha e a nega i e
impac on cons uc ion cos s. I is, he e o e, impo an o add ess issues conce ning he
economical handling o space a he cons uc ion si e ( o example, minimising he a eas
o cons uc ion si es and ma e ial s o age si es, and he pe iods o which hey a e used)
and he op imisa ion o he cons uc ion pe iod, hese being issues which a e pa icula ly
impo an in densely popula ed a eas and ci y cen es [4].
Bo h o hese opics a e ela ed o he e icien use o expensi e cons uc ion machines,
which in ci il enginee ing a e mainly ea hmo ing machines and owe c anes. The
Buildings 2022,12, 436. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/buildings12040436 h ps://www.mdpi.com/jou nal/buildings
Buildings 2022,12, 436 2 o 21
e iciency o hei use di ec ly a ec s he en i onmen al and economic sus ainabili y o he
buil s uc u e. The inancial cos s o he ope a ion o such machines a e (depending on he
scope, cons uc ion and complexi y o he s uc u e) usually 5–10% o he o al p oduc ion
cos s o he cons uc ion p ojec [
5
]. The speci ic na u e o cons uc ion wo k, and he
anspo a ion, li ing and s o age o la ge quan i ies o building ma e ials, equi es he
equen use o owe c anes. As a as he economic managemen o space a a cons uc ion
si e is conce ned, i is necessa y o sensi i ely in es iga e he necessa y numbe and loca ion
o c anes a he si e, and he ela ed loca ion o ma e ial s o age si es and hei scope,
which a ec s he size o he a ea needed o he cons uc ion si e and he o ganisa ion
o cons uc ion si e supply [
3
]. As ega ds he cons uc ion pe iod, he e iciency o he
u ilisa ion o owe c anes is one o he decisi e ac o s o he p oduc i i y o cons uc ion
si e wo k, as i a ec s he o al execu ion ime, he pe iod o occupancy o he needed space,
and hus also he o al inancial cos s o he cons uc ion p ojec [5].
Many au ho s deal wi h hese opics [
6
–
9
], wi h wo k ha mainly ocuses on he
op imisa ion o spa ial design o cons uc ion si es and on he loca ion and moni o ing o
cons uc ion ma e ials and machines in he p oduc i e a ea o cons uc ion si es in ela ion
o he e iciency o supply.
The esea ch which is p esen ed in his pape ocuses on an essen ial opic om he
pe spec i e o si e supply e iciency, namely he assessmen o he e iciency o he u ilisa-
ion o e ime o owe c anes du ing he cons uc ion o ein o ced conc e e monoli hic
s uc u es. The as majo i y o cons uc ion companies do no deal wi h he accu a e
assessmen o compliance wi h he binding cons uc ion schedule o he u ilisa ion o e
ime o owe c anes in he p e-cons uc ion phase, o hey use ou da ed me hods [
3
,
4
].
This disc epancy o en signi ican ly a ec s he e iciency and economics o he cons uc ion
p ojec , as well as o he c i e ia in he con ex o s uc u al sus ainabili y [
4
]. Today, when
ad anced compu e echnology is a ailable, i is necessa y o use a mo e accu a e calcula-
ion me hods as well as inpu da a ha a e digi ally p ocessed in he p ojec [
1
,
3
,
5
]. The
newly p oposed me hodology is based on a binding cons uc ion schedule, he eal- ime
equi emen s o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses, and he amoun o ma e ial mo ed. I also
akes in o accoun he cons uc ion sys em o he building. A de e minis ic app oach was
used o he ma hema ical modelling and he c ea ion o a simula ion model, he ad an-
ages o which will be desc ibed below. The me hodology is p esen ed o he cons uc ion
o a ein o ced conc e e monoli hic s uc u e, bu i is also gene ally applicable o o he
s uc u al sys ems and is eady o so wa e use in he “C ane occupancy 0.4” p og amme.
The nex pa o he pape p esen s ela ed esea ch by o he au ho s and hei e alua-
ion. An explana ion o he p ocedu e o de eloping he p oposed me hodology ollows.
The ollowing chap e cla i ies and p esen s he bounda y condi ions o he ask as well as
he p epa a ion o inpu da a o he simula ion model, including he design o a model
ope a ing cycle o a owe c ane, and analyses he ope a ing cycle o cons uc ion sub-
p ocesses. The nex pa o he pape p esen s a simula ion model o he wo k o a owe
c ane and i s so wa e p ocessing and e i ies he designed me hodology using ongoing
cons uc ion p ojec s and ein o ced conc e e mul i unc ional buildings. A compa ison o
cu en app oaches wi h he p esen ed me hodology and i s e alua ion can be ound in he
Discussion sec ion. The conclusion o he pape emphasises he impo ance o he ask and
men ions he u he con inua ion o he esea ch.
2. Li e a u e Re iew
Among hose wo ks dealing wi h he p oduc ion space and e icien supply o con-
s uc ion si es lies, o example, esea ch by Hawa neh e al., ocusing on he au oma ed
design o cons uc ion si e building loca ions, ma e ial s o age si es and he placemen
o cons uc ion machine y. A bina y in ege linea p og amming model is used o he
au oma ed design o deploymen loca ions. I op imises he placemen o machines wi h
ega d o a ailabili y, elemen o e lap, assembly, disassembly, o bidden a eas o machine
mo emen s and elemen placemen es ic ions. The use o dynamic alloca ion minimises
Buildings 2022,12, 436 3 o 21
he a ea o he cons uc ion si e and a ic dis ances and hus educes he o al inancial
cos s o cons uc ion si e equipmen [6].
Spisako a and Kozlo ska also desc ibe an inno a i e app oach o inc easing he
echnical, sa e y and en i onmen al e iciency o building si es wi h ega d o cons uc ion
si e supply and he on-si e anspo o ma e ials. They e e o he op ions o using RFID
(Radio F equency Iden i ica ion) high- equency iden i ica ion echnology o localisa ion
du ing he cons uc ion p ocess and desc ibe he ad an ages o i s applica ion. The main
componen s o he RFID sys em a e he ansmi e (senso and eade ) and a se o chips
( ags). On he cons uc ion si e, he posi ion o ma e ials, wo ke s, cons uc ion machine y
and equipmen can also be moni o ed. I is hus possible o moni o he cou se o speci ic
cons uc ion sub-p ocesses and eac o cu en de elopmen s in supply equi emen s. This
app oach can mainly be used o spon aneously manage cons uc ion si e supply du ing he
cons uc ion p ocess [7].
Huang is ano he au ho ha deals wi h he opic o op imising he p oduc i e a ea
o cons uc ion si es wi h ega d o cons uc ion si e supply. He p oposes a me hod o
he op imisa ion o owe c ane placemen . The s udy also conside s he calcula ion o he
cos s o he c ane, bu i does no deal wi h i s u ilisa ion o e ime in g ea e de ail. The
esul is hus no an exac assessmen o he e iciency o he use o owe c anes bu o hei
op imum posi ioning [8].
Resea ch ocusing on calcula ing he op imum posi ion o a owe c ane was also
ca ied ou by he au ho s Fun ík and Gašpa ík. The p oposed posi ion o a owe c ane
is e alua ed in e ms o he anspo dis ance o ma e ials, he leng h o he jib needed
o he deli e y o all elemen s, and he a el ime o he c ane hook. The e alua ed da a
a e hen compa ed wi h he pe mi ed wo kload o he owe c ane. The esul is a map o
he e alua ed c i e ia in a coo dina e sys em ela ed o he owe c ane. The map indica es
he di e ences be ween all possible c ane posi ions. I is used as a basis o e alua ing
an op imum posi ion o he owe c ane wi h ega d o he minimisa ion o anspo
dis ances [9].
The pape s men ioned abo e, and o he s, deal mainly wi h he op imisa ion o he
p oduc i e space a a cons uc ion si e [
10
–
12
], he localisa ion o machine , cons uc ion si e
s o age a eas [
13
,
14
] and he planning and op imisa ion o he deli e y and consump ion
o ma e ials in ela ion o cons uc ion si e supply [
15
–
17
]. These ac o s all in luence he
e iciency o he wo k o owe c anes on a cons uc ion si e, bu hese s udies do no deal
wi h he di ec e alua ion o he e icien u ilisa ion o owe c anes wi h ega d o he
speci ic equi emen s o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses (CSP) and he binding cons uc ion
ime schedule. I cons uc ion companies do ake he u ilisa ion o owe c anes o e ime
in o accoun , hey only use ou da ed and insu icien ly accu a e calcula ion me hods.
P e iously known calcula ion me hods used o he design and assessmen o owe
c anes wi h ega d o hei e icien u ilisa ion o e ime and wi h espec o cons uc ion
ime a e based on he insu icien ly accu a e inpu in o ma ion and calcula ion p ocedu es
ha a e based la gely on empi ical da a and he in ui ion o expe ienced
expe s [3–5,18]
.
Consequen ly, he alues ob ained om such p ocedu es a e only e y app oxima e
and inaccu a e.
A me hod using he indica o o he numbe o employees. The numbe o equi ed
c anes is de e mined acco ding o he numbe o cons uc ion wo ke s whose ac i i y
equi es suppo om a c ane. Un o una ely, di e en au ho s [
3
,
18
] gi e di e en alues.
Mos o en, 10–20 wo ke s pe c ane a e epo ed. Some sou ces speci y his in o ma ion
acco ding o he s uc u e o he building. The impac o he ype and amoun o anspo ed
ma e ial o he ype o c ane is no men ioned in he li e a u e.
A me hod using he indica o o he enclosed a ea o a cons uc ed building pe uni
o ime. I s a es how many m
3
o enclosed space can be buil pe ime uni ( o example,
one mon h) when supplied by one c ane. Mos equen ly, i is s a ed as 1000 m
3
pe one
c ane o one mon h [
5
]. Mo eo e , in his case, no dis inc ion is made be ween he ypes o
ma e ial o s uc u al sys em used o he building.
Buildings 2022,12, 436 4 o 21
A e y app oxima e me hod uses he weigh indica o o he anspo ed ma e ial pe
uni o ime. This indica es how many ons o building ma e ial can be anspo ed pe ime
uni (e.g., one mon h) when supplied by one c ane. Di e en au ho s [
3
–
5
,
18
] s a e di e en
alues anging be ween 300–660 /mon h o one owe c ane. Again, no dis inc ion is
made be ween ypes o ma e ial and he speci ic equi emen s o hei supply. These
indica o s can be ende ed mo e p ecise by de e mining he consump ion o cons uc ion
ma e ial in /m
3
o enclosed space o he indi idual cons uc ion ype o he buildings [
2
].
Howe e , he esul is once again only indica i e.
In he con ex o sus ainable cons uc ion c i e ia, hese me hods a e cu en ly no
longe sui able. This is especially ue conside ing oday’s cons uc ion speeds, he high
cos s associa ed wi h he ope a ion o mode n cons uc ion c anes and he en i onmen al
and o he economic equi emen s o cons uc ion. New, mo e p ecise p ocedu es a e
being sough o deal wi h he design and e alua ion o he e iciency o he use o con-
s uc ion machine y (no only owe c anes [
2
,
19
,
20
]), using a ious ma hema ical models
(s ochas ic, de e minis ic, heu is ic o gene ic algo i hms) in he con ex o sus ainable
cons uc ion [21–23].
All hese exac app oaches based on ma hema ical modelling o he ask equi e one o
s a wi h he ca e ul p epa a ion o he inpu da a and he de e mina ion o he bounda y
condi ions o he solu ion. A possible app oach is p oposed by Wu e al. The e is a
link be ween he p ojec plan and he building ma e ials o be used. The model is based
on he selec ion o in o ma ion on he e ical anspo o building ma e ials, auxilia y
ma e ials o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses ( o mwo k, sca olding, shee ing), he gene a ion
o in o ma ion on he e ical anspo o cons uc ion wo ke s and he de e mina ion o he
me hod o e ical anspo . The au ho deals wi h he quan i y and posi ion o ma e ials
in he s uc u e and hei connec ion wi h he ime schedule. This is he mos impo an
con ibu ion o he wo k, as i b ings a g ea deal o e inemen o he whole calcula ion.
Howe e , i does no pe o m a de ailed analysis o he speci ic ime equi emen s o he
cons uc ion sub-p ocesses o owe c ane se ice, elying only on consump ion coe icien s
o es ima ing he amoun o ma e ial. This acili a es he p epa a ion o inpu da a, which
can hen be used o he s ochas ic o heu is ic solu ion o asks [24].
Kozlo skáe al. compa ed s ochas ic and de e minis ic app oaches o he speci ica-
ion o he pe o mance o cons uc ion machines. A e compa ing he wo in es iga ed
app oaches in he case s udy, he alues gained o he pe o mances o he moni o ed
machines we e ound o be qui e compa able. The in es iga ion shows ha when he
o mulas and ela ionships be ween a iables a e mo e complica ed, i can be assumed ha
he po en ial o he s ochas ic app oach will be ully exploi ed. As a esul , his app oach
can be used in cases wi h mo e a ied inpu pa ame e s, while he de e minis ic app oach
does no e lec he andomness and p obabili y o an e en a ec ing he pe o mance o
cons uc ion machines. Howe e , i he bounda y condi ions o he solu ion a e de e mined
exac ly and he inpu da a a e ela i ely unambiguous, a de e minis ic app oach can lead
o a mo e accu a e esul o an in es iga ed ask [25].
One example o a s ochas ic app oach o he solu ion o asks is he wo k o he au ho s
Mo yˇcka e al., which comp ehensi ely deals wi h he issue o he u ilisa ion o owe c anes
o e ime on cons uc ion si es. I is he i s ime ha exac e alua ion and eal supply
equi emen s wi h ega d o he de ails o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses ha e been deal wi h
in he li e a u e. The au ho s desc ibe he e ec on supply equi emen s o luc ua ions in
he consump ion o cons uc ion ma e ials and, o he i s ime, de ine wha can be e med
"decisi e ma e ials" o owe c ane anspo a ion on a cons uc ion si e. Queueing heo y
was used o calcula e he ime equi emen s o he anspo a ion o needed ma e ials using
owe c anes. As pa o he calcula ion, his me hod de e mines he ime equi emen s o
all cons uc ion sub-p ocesses en e ing he sys em and he numbe o all c ane cycles in he
moni o ed shi . Howe e , he s a is ical app oach using queueing heo y also conside s
only he a e age se ice ime o all cons uc ion sub-p ocesses in he moni o ed shi and
he a e age ime ou side he se ice sys em, i.e., he a e age ime o elemen ci cula ion. I
Buildings 2022,12, 436 5 o 21
does no dis inguish mo e p ecisely be ween he di e ences in he ime equi emen s o he
indi idual cons uc ion sub-p ocesses en e ing he sys em in one wo king shi . This leads
o a ce ain dis o ion o he o e all esul s, which he s ochas ic app oach can gene ally
cause [3].
Wu and Ga cía de So o ca ied ou a s udy in which hey p opose he spa io- empo al
planning o he wo k o owe c anes. I in ol es a me a-heu is ic algo i hm. Gene ally,
such heu is ic algo i hms a e based on he expe imen al solu ion o a ask and do no
necessa ily gua an ee su icien ly accu a e esul s. An op imisa ion model was c ea ed
ha conside s he o bidden a eas o he mo emen o he c ane jib, as well as al e na i e
solu ions o he cases o one o mo e owe c anes. The model allows he display o ask
scheduling using a 4D simula ion in BIM. This enables he in ui i e and e icien display o
in o ma ion abou he li ed load and he ela ionships be ween li ing asks. The aim is
he op imum design o planned asks in e ms o he minimum o al wo king ime o he
c anes. Howe e , his minimum ime may no e lec he ac ual ope a ing ime equi ed,
which mus also conside he echnical aspec o he cons uc ion p ojec and he esul ing
ime equi emen s o he se icing o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses [26].
In ano he s udy, he same au ho s, Wu e al., de eloped hei p e ious solu ion and
p esen an adap ed ma hema ical model o he spa io- empo al planning o he wo k o
owe c anes, whe e he inpu pa ame e s a e he speci ica ions o he designed c anes
( ype, load capaci y, each, heigh ), hei numbe , posi ion and he du a ion o hei use. The
p oposal aims o op imise he wo k o p e iously de ined g oups o c anes o ensu e ha
hey wo k e icien ly. The op imisa ion model pays special a en ion o he calcula ion o
delays caused by he wai ing o a c ane o new anspo asks and he wai ing o wo ke s
o se ice om a busy c ane. This is a new elemen ha makes he calcula ion mo e p ecise.
The esul is, again, he minimisa ion o he cons uc ion pe iod and he o al cons uc ion
cos s. As wi h he p e ious solu ion, his heu is ic app oach does no su icien ly ake
in o accoun he echnical aspec o he cons uc ion p ocess ( o example, he p io i y
se icing o decisi e cons uc ion sub-p ocesses), which is mo e impo an o he quali y
o he buil s uc u e han he minimisa ion o he cons uc ion ime [
27
]. The same au ho s
de elop he opic u he in hei ollowing wo k, whe e hey ocus on moni o ing and
he use o cu en equi emen s o e ical anspo du ing he cons uc ion o high- ise
buildings [27,28].
The op imisa ion o owe c anes on cons uc ion si es using a planned se ies o
ac i i ies p epa ed o e e y c ane was he subjec o esea ch by Ta hini e al. An in ege
linea p og amme was de eloped o deal wi h he ask. Tasks o he se e o cons uc ion
sub-p ocesses a e i s di ided up be ween indi idual c anes, a e which each indi idual
p oblem is sol ed o each c ane. The op imisa ion also akes ce ain bounda y condi ions
in o accoun , such as he need o a oid he collision o c anes and he need o p io i ise asks.
Howe e , i does no conside he possible coope a ion o c anes in join ly se ed pa s o
he cons uc ion si e wi h ega d o he echnical p io i y o he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses.
This can signi ican ly a ec he ou come o he ask solu ion [29].
An in e es ing app oach is he wo k o Pe líko a om he Czech Technical Uni e si y
in P ague, who p oposes in he disse a ion a neu al ne wo k applica ion o he s anda d-
isa ion o wo k and o he models ealised du ing he p epa a o y s age o cons uc ion.
Models based on neu al ne wo ks could inc ease he e iciency o , and op imise, o exam-
ple, he calcula ion o he du a ion o he pe o mance o speci ic cons uc ion p ocesses
and he inancial cos s o hei pe o mance. P o ided ha a su icien amoun o quali y
inpu da a is a ailable and ha u he esea ch in he ield o neu al ne wo k op imisa ion
is simul aneously ca ied ou , he p ocedu es p esen ed in he pape could lead o op imal
p edic ion models also in connec ion wi h he solu ion o he e iciency o cons uc ion
machines [13].
The con ibu ion o Hosang Hyun e al. [
30
] ocuses on he op imal design o c anes
o minimise cos s. Speci ically, he au ho s ocused on minimising he each o he owe
c ane. Ju Yong Kim e al. [
31
] ocused on minimising sa e y isks when deploying c anes

Buildings 2022,12, 436 6 o 21
on a cons uc ion si e. In his pape , he au ho s analysed he key ac o s leading o he
minimisa ion o sa e y isks in he p ocess o assembly wo k. Danel e al. [
32
] analysed key
inpu da a ela ed o he op imal design o c anes on si e and p oposed a me hodology o
measu ing p oduc i i y in cons uc ion assembly p ocesses.
The new me hod o assessing he e ec i e use o owe c anes in he cons uc ion o
ein o ced conc e e monoli hic s uc u es p esen ed in he nex pa o he pape ollows on
om p e ious solu ions and bo h de elops and adds speci ici y o ha body o wo k in
ce ain aspec s. The e inemen is based on se e al ac o s. The ma hema ical simula ion
model is based on a de e minis ic modelling app oach. This allows mo e accu a e esul s o
be achie ed, equi ing mo e exac inpu da a. The e o e, a s anda d owe c ane ope a ing
cycle was c ea ed and a me hod o calcula ing he ope a ing cycle du a ion o he c ane,
c
,
was de e mined. A de ailed analysis o a CSP was c ea ed, i s heo e ically and hen o
a speci ic CSP. Thei selec ion, analysis, classi ica ion in o g oups acco ding o he c ane
load and he me hod o c ane ope a ion equi emen s we e pe o med. Due o he use
o de e minis ic ma hema ical modelling, bounda y condi ions and simpli ying assump-
ions o sol ing he p oblem we e de ined. Wi h ega d o he cons uc ion echnology,
CPS se ice p io i ies we e se as a undamen al p inciple o he model. All he sou ce
ma e ials necessa y o de e mine mo e accu a e inpu da a a e a ailable in he cons uc ion
echnology documen a ion o he building p ojec and, o example, in he BIM model o
he s uc u e.
The p oposed me hod has also been p epa ed o apid ope a ional use in he o m o
a compu e (so wa e) applica ion, and i can be used ia an in e ne b owse .
3. P ocedu e o he De elopmen o he P oposed Me hod
The wo k on he p oposal and de elopmen o he me hod o assessing he u ilisa ion
o e ime o owe c anes acco ding o he p io i ies o CSP in he cons uc ion o monoli hic
ein o ced conc e e s uc u es was di ided in o wo basic pa s. The wo k in bo h a eas
ook place almos simul aneously because, in pa icula , he moni o ing o cons uc ion
sub-p ocesses a eal cons uc ion si es is e y ime-consuming.
In he i s pa o he ask called “ he p epa a ion o inpu da a”, we conce ned
ou sel es wi h he c ea ion o he bounda y condi ions o he in es iga ed ask and he
p ocess o p epa ing and c ea ing inpu da a o use in he new simula ion model. I was
necessa y o analyse he cou se o cons uc ion o monoli hic ein o ced conc e e buildings,
and so a s anda d owe c ane wo k cycle was c ea ed along wi h an analysis o CSP used
o c ea e he ab ic o a monoli hic ein o ced conc e e s uc u e. Simul aneously, he cou se
o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses moni o ed selec ed ein o ced conc e e s uc u es, in his case,
monoli hic ein o ced conc e e mul i-s o ey buildings. This ype o s uc u e was chosen
because o he di e si y o he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses ha occu du ing cons uc ion
and also due o he equen use o his ype o s uc u e in he cons uc ion o buildings in
densely buil -up la ge ci ies. Subsequen ly, compa ison and assessmen we e pe o med
wi h ega d o he heo e ical analysis o indi idual cons uc ion sub-p ocesses and he
esul s o he inspec ion moni o ing o he p o ision o se ice o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses
using owe c anes on speci ic cons uc ion si es.
In he second pa o he ask—called simula ion modelling—we ocused on he
c ea ion o a simula ion model o assessing he u ilisa ion o e ime o owe c anes, on i s
inco po a ion in o he me hod o assessing he u ilisa ion o owe c anes o e ime, and
on he c ea ion o compu e suppo o i s p ac ical use in he p e-cons uc ion phase. A
simula ion model was c ea ed o he p edic ion o he wo k o owe c anes. I is assumed
ha he cons uc ion and hus also i s supply p oceeds acco ding o a binding schedule [
3
].
The e o e, a his s age, a cons uc ion schedule analysis and a ne wo k analysis using he
CPM (C i ical Pa h Me hod) a e pe o med o suppo he c ea ion o a simula ion model [
4
].
The inpu da a o ma hema ical modelling du ing he c ea ion o a simula ion model a e
ob ained om his analysis. The ma hema ical modelling was pe o med in he MATLAB
en i onmen . Subsequen ly, a compu e applica ion was de eloped o p ac ical use.
Buildings 2022,12, 436 7 o 21
4. Bounda y Condi ions o he Task and he P epa a ion o he Inpu Da a o he
Simula ion Model
I is e y di icul , o a he impossible, o accu a ely p edic he equi emen s o
he a ious cons uc ion sub-p ocesses se ed by owe c anes in e ms o he amoun o
ma e ial being mo ed in connec ion wi h he ime equi ed o owe c ane se ice. We
ied o simula e he eal wo k o c anes on a cons uc ion si e as closely as possible wi h
he simula ion model. Fo ma hema ical modelling, i is necessa y o clea ly de ine he
assigned ask, de e mine he p econdi ions o he in es iga ion, which will help us simpli y
he whole ask, and p epa e he inpu da a o he model so ha hey a e ma hema ically
g aspable wi hin he model.
The ask was hus o c ea e a ool o assess whe he a owe c ane (o a se o hem)
can se ice all he equi emen s o a cons uc ion sub-p ocess in he equi ed ime se in he
binding wo k schedule. The ollowing bounda y condi ions and simpli ying p econdi ions
o he in es iga ion o he ask we e de e mined:
•
We always e alua e a ixed ime in e al—we assess he deg ee o cons uc ion
p og ess o he echnical s age o he cons uc ion, whe e he uni in e al mos o en
equals he ime o one wo k shi ;
•
We assume he cou se o cons uc ion and he collec ion o ma e ial will bo h oc-
cu smoo hly;
•
We wo k wi h he binding wo k schedule, which is se ou a he cons uc ion sub-
p ocess le el;
•
We moni o he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses which a e egula ly se ed by a c ane in
he moni o ed ime in e al;
•
The e is a ini e numbe o moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocesses in his ime in e al;
•The concu encies o he moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocesses a e known;
•
Each moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess uns con inuously h oughou he assessed
ime in e al;
•
The c ane always anspo s a uni amoun o ma e ial co esponding o he cons uc-
ion sub-p ocess se ed;
•
A s anda d wo k cycle is p oduced o e e y moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess
(explained in mo e de ail below);
•The basic e sion o he simula ion model does no conside andom e ec s.
4.1. The S anda d Wo k Cycle o a Towe C ane
To de e mine he o al wo k cycle ime
c
we use he s anda d wo k cycle o a owe
c ane (Figu e 1). This in ol es he de e mina ion o a pe iod which includes he ans e o
ma e ial om he place o s o age o he place o deposi ion o assembly in he building,
including he hooking and unhooking o he load and he possible assis ance o he c ane
du ing cons uc ion sub-p ocesses.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 o 22
including he hooking and unhooking o he load and he possible assis ance o he c ane
du ing cons uc ion sub-p ocesses.
Figu e 1. Basic di ision o he wo k cycle o a c ane.
The binding wo k schedule, p epa ed a he CSP le el, shows he equi ed speed o
cons uc ion, ma e ial consump ion and ime in he moni o ed ime in e al (e.g., wo k
shi ). I is assumed ha he c ane always anspo s a uni amoun o ma e ial
co esponding o he CSP se ed. This de e mines he wo k cycle o each speci ic CSP. We
can de ine i as a ime in e al in which a uni amoun o ma e ial is deli e ed by a c ane
o his CSP. The du a ion o one wo k cycle o a moni o ed CSP, ma ked as T, is de ined
as he sum o ime c, i.e., he o al ime equi ed by a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one
wo k cycle, and ime p, he ime du ing which wo k on he CSP akes place wi hou he
p o ision o se ice by a cons uc ion c ane. Thus, he la ge T means he ime in e al
be ween demands o he deli e y o a uni quan i y o ma e ial o a pa icula CSP, and
i exp esses he ollowing ela ion (Figu e 2):
T = c + p (1)
T— he du a ion o he wo k cycle o a CSP,
c— he o al ime needed o a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle,
p— he ime o which wo k on a CSP akes place wi hou se ice om a cons uc ion
c ane.
Figu e 2. The du a ion o a CSP wo k cycle designa ed T is he sum o he o al ime needed o he
CSP o be se iced by a owe c ane, c, and he ime wo k akes place on a CSP wi hou se ice om
a owe c ane, p.
To de e mine he alues c and p o he decisi e CSP, hei heo e ical analysis was
ca ied ou and subsequen ly e i ied du ing he moni o ing o se e al ongoing
cons uc ion p ojec s.
The owe c ane wo k cycle ime n needed o a owe c ane o se ice one wo k cycle
o a CSP has o be di ided in o a pe iod o he anspo o ma e ial using he c ane, j,
he ime o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial m and possibly he ime du ing which
Figu e 1. Basic di ision o he wo k cycle o a c ane.
Buildings 2022,12, 436 8 o 21
The binding wo k schedule, p epa ed a he CSP le el, shows he equi ed speed o
cons uc ion, ma e ial consump ion and ime in he moni o ed ime in e al (e.g., wo k
shi ). I is assumed ha he c ane always anspo s a uni amoun o ma e ial co espond-
ing o he CSP se ed. This de e mines he wo k cycle o each speci ic CSP. We can de ine i
as a ime in e al in which a uni amoun o ma e ial is deli e ed by a c ane o his CSP.
The du a ion o one wo k cycle o a moni o ed CSP, ma ked as T, is de ined as he sum o
ime
c
, i.e., he o al ime equi ed by a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle, and
ime
p
, he ime du ing which wo k on he CSP akes place wi hou he p o ision o se ice
by a cons uc ion c ane. Thus, he la ge T means he ime in e al be ween demands o he
deli e y o a uni quan i y o ma e ial o a pa icula CSP, and i exp esses he ollowing
ela ion (Figu e 2):
T= c+ p(1)
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 o 22
including he hooking and unhooking o he load and he possible assis ance o he c ane
du ing cons uc ion sub-p ocesses.
Figu e 1. Basic di ision o he wo k cycle o a c ane.
The binding wo k schedule, p epa ed a he CSP le el, shows he equi ed speed o
cons uc ion, ma e ial consump ion and ime in he moni o ed ime in e al (e.g., wo k
shi ). I is assumed ha he c ane always anspo s a uni amoun o ma e ial
co esponding o he CSP se ed. This de e mines he wo k cycle o each speci ic CSP. We
can de ine i as a ime in e al in which a uni amoun o ma e ial is deli e ed by a c ane
o his CSP. The du a ion o one wo k cycle o a moni o ed CSP, ma ked as T, is de ined
as he sum o ime c, i.e., he o al ime equi ed by a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one
wo k cycle, and ime p, he ime du ing which wo k on he CSP akes place wi hou he
p o ision o se ice by a cons uc ion c ane. Thus, he la ge T means he ime in e al
be ween demands o he deli e y o a uni quan i y o ma e ial o a pa icula CSP, and
i exp esses he ollowing ela ion (Figu e 2):
T = c + p (1)
T— he du a ion o he wo k cycle o a CSP,
c— he o al ime needed o a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle,
p— he ime o which wo k on a CSP akes place wi hou se ice om a cons uc ion
c ane.
Figu e 2. The du a ion o a CSP wo k cycle designa ed T is he sum o he o al ime needed o he
CSP o be se iced by a owe c ane, c, and he ime wo k akes place on a CSP wi hou se ice om
a owe c ane, p.
To de e mine he alues c and p o he decisi e CSP, hei heo e ical analysis was
ca ied ou and subsequen ly e i ied du ing he moni o ing o se e al ongoing
cons uc ion p ojec s.
The owe c ane wo k cycle ime n needed o a owe c ane o se ice one wo k cycle
o a CSP has o be di ided in o a pe iod o he anspo o ma e ial using he c ane, j,
he ime o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial m and possibly he ime du ing which
Figu e 2.
The du a ion o a CSP wo k cycle designa ed T is he sum o he o al ime needed o he
CSP o be se iced by a owe c ane,
c
, and he ime wo k akes place on a CSP wi hou se ice om
a owe c ane, p.
T— he du a ion o he wo k cycle o a CSP,
c— he o al ime needed o a owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle,
p
— he ime o which wo k on a CSP akes place wi hou se ice om a cons uc-
ion c ane.
To de e mine he alues
c
and
p
o he decisi e CSP, hei heo e ical analysis was
ca ied ou and subsequen ly e i ied du ing he moni o ing o se e al ongoing cons uc-
ion p ojec s.
The owe c ane wo k cycle ime
n
needed o a owe c ane o se ice one wo k cycle
o a CSP has o be di ided in o a pe iod o he anspo o ma e ial using he c ane,
j
, he
ime o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial
m
and possibly he ime du ing which he
c ane assis s in wo k on he moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess,
a
(i i akes place du ing
he moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess). I is shown schema ically in Figu e 3.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 o 22
he c ane assis s in wo k on he moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess, a (i i akes place
du ing he moni o ed cons uc ion sub-p ocess). I is shown schema ically in Figu e 3.
Figu e 3. The s anda d wo k cycle o a owe c ane n.
When calcula ing he o al ime o a owe c ane wo k cycle, designa ed as c, he
objec i e and subjec i e in luences o wo king condi ions o he gi en owe c ane (e.g.,
ma e ial p ope ies, he echnical in luence o he se iced p ocess, he spa ial s uc u e o
he cons uc ion si e, wea he in luences, he quali y o he machine ope a o ) a e aken
in o accoun . These in luences on wo k a e aken in o accoun ia he coe icien ks and
can be conside ed acco ding o [5,18] in he ollowing cha (Table 1).
Table 1. Values o he coe icien o in luences on wo k ks.
Cons uc ion Sub-P ocess Values o he Coe icien o In luences on
Wo k ks
Conc e ing—solid s uc u es 1.1
Conc e ing— hin-walled s uc u es 1.4
Rein o cemen 1.1
Fo mwo k 1.2
Remo al o o mwo k 1.1
Assembly o elemen s 1.2
The o al ime o he wo k cycle c can be exp essed wi h he ela ion:
c = ks + n (2)
c—is he o al ime needed o se ice om a owe c ane in a cons uc ion sub-
p ocess in one wo k cycle,
ks—is he coe icien o in luences on wo k,
n—is he ime equi ed o he owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle
acco ding o he ollowing ela ion.
n = j + m + a (3)
j—is he ime needed o mo e a uni o ma e ial,
m—is he ime equi ed o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial,
a—is he c ane assis ance ime in one wo k cycle.
The alue o he ans e o a uni o ma e ial “ j” can be de e mined wi h espec o
known inpu alues, such as he hois ing speed o he owe c ane, he speed o a el o
he olley along he jib and he o a ion speed o he owe . The calcula ion mus be based
on he a ailable da a p o ided by he manu ac u e o he selec ed c ane ype and he
layou o he cons uc ion si e, o on he s anda d wo k cycles o he owe c ane [3].
On he o he hand, he ime o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial “ m” and he
ac ual alue o he c ane assis ance ime “ a” canno be de e mined ia calcula ion.
The e o e, i is necessa y o use only moni o ing o hese cons uc ion sub-p ocesses on
cons uc ion si es. The m alues o he selec ed CSP we e aken om [5].
The e alua ed imes needed o he hooking and unhooking o selec ed ma e ials a e
summa ised in he Table 2.
Figu e 3. The s anda d wo k cycle o a owe c ane n.
When calcula ing he o al ime o a owe c ane wo k cycle, designa ed as
c
, he
objec i e and subjec i e in luences o wo king condi ions o he gi en owe c ane (e.g.,
ma e ial p ope ies, he echnical in luence o he se iced p ocess, he spa ial s uc u e o
he cons uc ion si e, wea he in luences, he quali y o he machine ope a o ) a e aken
in o accoun . These in luences on wo k a e aken in o accoun ia he coe icien k
s
and can
be conside ed acco ding o [5,18] in he ollowing cha (Table 1).
Buildings 2022,12, 436 9 o 21
Table 1. Values o he coe icien o in luences on wo k ks.
Cons uc ion Sub-P ocess Values o he Coe icien o In luences on
Wo k ks
Conc e ing—solid s uc u es 1.1
Conc e ing— hin-walled s uc u es 1.4
Rein o cemen 1.1
Fo mwo k 1.2
Remo al o o mwo k 1.1
Assembly o elemen s 1.2
The o al ime o he wo k cycle c can be exp essed wi h he ela ion:
c= ks+ n(2)
c
—is he o al ime needed o se ice om a owe c ane in a cons uc ion sub-p ocess
in one wo k cycle,
ks—is he coe icien o in luences on wo k,
n
—is he ime equi ed o he owe c ane o se ice a CSP in one wo k cycle acco d-
ing o he ollowing ela ion.
n= j+ m+ a(3)
j—is he ime needed o mo e a uni o ma e ial,
m—is he ime equi ed o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial,
a—is he c ane assis ance ime in one wo k cycle.
The alue o he ans e o a uni o ma e ial “
j
” can be de e mined wi h espec
o known inpu alues, such as he hois ing speed o he owe c ane, he speed o a el
o he olley along he jib and he o a ion speed o he owe . The calcula ion mus be
based on he a ailable da a p o ided by he manu ac u e o he selec ed c ane ype and
he layou o he cons uc ion si e, o on he s anda d wo k cycles o he owe c ane [3].
On he o he hand, he ime o hooking and unhooking he ma e ial “
m
” and he ac-
ual alue o he c ane assis ance ime “
a
” canno be de e mined ia calcula ion. The e o e,
i is necessa y o use only moni o ing o hese cons uc ion sub-p ocesses on cons uc ion
si es. The m alues o he selec ed CSP we e aken om [5].
The e alua ed imes needed o he hooking and unhooking o selec ed ma e ials a e
summa ised in he Table 2.
Table 2.
App oxima e alues o he ime m equi ed o he hooking and unhooking o selec ed
ma e ials om he c ane hook.
Type o T anspo ed Ma e ial Uni o Be Mo ed Time m o Hooking (Loading) +
Unhooking (Unloading) (min.)
Palle s wi h mason y ma e ial One palle 2.0
Fo mwo k Elemen s—mo ed in bulk 3.0
Fo mwo k La ge- o ma , p e-assembled elemen s,
mo ed indi idually up o 10 min.
Rein o cemen Rods in a package 3.0
Rein o cemen Rein o cemen meshes 2.0
F esh conc e e- Con aine holding up o 0.5 m31.5
solid s uc u e
F esh conc e e— hin-walled s uc u es Con aine holding up o 0.5 m32.0
F esh conc e e- Con aine holding up o 1.0 m33.0
solid s uc u e
Conc e ing— hin-walled s uc u es Con aine holding up o 1.0 m303.V
Ceiling panels One piece 3.0
Elemen s— he c ane does no ensu e
s abili y du ing ins alla ion One piece Up o 6 min.
Elemen s— he c ane ensu es s abili y
du ing ins alla ion One piece 10–30 *
* The alue depends on he speci ic ype o elemen and he ins alla ion echnique.
Buildings 2022,12, 436 16 o 21
The op ions o he p e-supply o some cons uc ion sub-p ocesses and he use o
c ane idle imes o he se ice o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses om he 3 d g oup ( he
g oup o sub-p ocesses which ha e i egula and unp edic able equi emen s o c ane
se ice—see Sec ion 4, which a e aken in o accoun ia he coe icien k
3
= 0.1) a e assessed
and he u ilisa ion o he owe c ane by he 3 d g oup o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses is
aken in o accoun .
The ollowing ela ion applies o he calcula ion o he o al wo k shi ime, wi h
conside a ion gi en o he se ing o cons uc ion sub-p ocesses om he 3 d g oup:
TΣ= k3·Ts+ Ts(5)
TΣ— he o al du a ion o he e alua ed shi ,
k
3
—coe icien aking in o accoun he handling o i egula o unp edic able
equi emen s,
T
s
— he du a ion o he wo k shi acco ding o he calcula ion o he planned se ic-
ing o he cons uc ion sub-p ocess.
I he u ilisa ion o he owe c ane is less han 90%, he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses
classi ied in he 3 d g oup can be se ed du ing c ane idle imes c ane and coe icien k
3
does no need o be conside ed in he calcula ion.
7. E alua ion o he Resul s
The esul s o he ou pu s om he C ane Occupancy 0.4 applica ion mus be e alua ed
and a conclusion mus be d awn wi h ega d o he in es iga ed ask. The assessmen and
e alua ion o he esul s a e ca ied ou by each employee in ol ed in he p e-cons uc ion
phase a hei own disc e ion, p e e ably in consul a ion wi h he si e manage . The
ollowing ecommenda ions can be ollowed:
I a wo k shi is ex ended as a esul o owe c ane u ilisa ion, he ollowing ap-
p oaches a e possible:
•Conside whe he an ex ension o he wo k shi o he necessa y scope is possible;
•P e-s ock he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses, whe e possible, wi h he equi ed ma e ial;
•
P opose a wo k shi ex ension o wo-shi ope a ion o a selec ed pa o he assessed
cons uc ion pe iod, o he en i e pe iod;
•
P opose ano he owe c ane o a selec ed pa o he assessed cons uc ion pe iod, o
he en i e pe iod.
The e i ica ion o he p oposed me hod ook place ia a case s udy— wo i e-s o ey
monoli hic ein o ced conc e e buildings wi h mason y pa i ions, se ed simul aneously
by one Liebhe 71 K owe c ane. The layou o bo h buildings is e y simila . Si e plan o
he in es iga ed case s udy is shown on Figu e 7.
The ollowing able (Table 6) documen s he ou pu alues o da a e alua ed by he
C ane Occupancy 0.4 applica ion o a pa o he pe iod conside ed in he case s udy. Each
e alua ed day ep esen s one wo k shi . The able shows he o al shi ime in minu es,
which is equi ed o he planned wo k in he moni o ed shi , wi h ega d o he p o ision
o se ice o all he equi emen s o he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses o c ane ope a ion.
O he da a show he ne ime he c ane is in use du ing he moni o ed shi and also he
ime when coe icien k
3
is aken in o accoun , i.e., when un o eseen equi emen s a e
conside ed ( his was desc ibed in Sec ion 6). The ime da a a e gi en in minu es. The nex
pa o he able shows he c ane u ilisa ion alues du ing he moni o ed shi , exp essed as
a pe cen age.

Buildings 2022,12, 436 17 o 21
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 17 o 22
k
3
—coe icien aking in o accoun he handling o i egula o unp edic able
equi emen s,
T
s
— he du a ion o he wo k shi acco ding o he calcula ion o he planned
se icing o he cons uc ion sub-p ocess.
I he u ilisa ion o he owe c ane is less han 90%, he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses
classi ied in he 3 d g oup can be se ed du ing c ane idle imes c ane and coe icien k
3
does no need o be conside ed in he calcula ion.
7. E alua ion o he Resul s
The esul s o he ou pu s om he C ane Occupancy 0.4 applica ion mus be
e alua ed and a conclusion mus be d awn wi h ega d o he in es iga ed ask. The
assessmen and e alua ion o he esul s a e ca ied ou by each employee in ol ed in he
p e-cons uc ion phase a hei own disc e ion, p e e ably in consul a ion wi h he si e
manage . The ollowing ecommenda ions can be ollowed:
I a wo k shi is ex ended as a esul o owe c ane u ilisa ion, he ollowing
app oaches a e possible:
• Conside whe he an ex ension o he wo k shi o he necessa y scope is possible;
• P e-s ock he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses, whe e possible, wi h he equi ed ma e ial;
• P opose a wo k shi ex ension o wo-shi ope a ion o a selec ed pa o he
assessed cons uc ion pe iod, o he en i e pe iod;
• P opose ano he owe c ane o a selec ed pa o he assessed cons uc ion pe iod,
o he en i e pe iod.
The e i ica ion o he p oposed me hod ook place ia a case s udy— wo i e-s o ey
monoli hic ein o ced conc e e buildings wi h mason y pa i ions, se ed simul aneously
by one Liebhe 71 K owe c ane. The layou o bo h buildings is e y simila . Si e plan
o he in es iga ed case s udy is shown on Figu e 7.
Figu e 7. Si e plan o he in es iga ed case s udy.
The ollowing able (Table 6) documen s he ou pu alues o da a e alua ed by he
C ane Occupancy 0.4 applica ion o a pa o he pe iod conside ed in he case s udy.
Each e alua ed day ep esen s one wo k shi . The able shows he o al shi ime in
minu es, which is equi ed o he planned wo k in he moni o ed shi , wi h ega d o he
p o ision o se ice o all he equi emen s o he cons uc ion sub-p ocesses o c ane
Figu e 7. Si e plan o he in es iga ed case s udy.
Table 6.
Example o esul s e alua ed o a pa o he assessed pe iod o he cons uc ion o wo
buildings; he planned wo k shi leng h is 720 min.
E alua ed Day
To al Time
(min)
C ane Usage Time (min) C ane Usage Pe cen age (%)
Da e Day o he
Week
SW C ane
Occupancy 0.4
A e Taking
in o Accoun he
Coe icien k3
SW C ane
Occupancy 0.4
A e Taking in o
Accoun he
Coe icien k3
15 June 2020 Monday 732 66 72.6 9.02 9.92
16 June 2020 Tuesday 732 66 72.6 9.02 9.92
17 June 2020 Wednesday 732 66 72.6 9.02 9.92
18 June 2020 Thu sday 732 66 72.6 9.02 9.92
19 June 2020 F iday 732 90 99 12.3 13.52
22 June 2020 Monday 726 42 46.2 5.79 6.36
23 June 2020 Tuesday 727 123 135.3 16.92 18.61
24 June 2020 Wednesday 1214 746 820.6 61.45 67.59
25 June 2020 Thu sday 720 18 19.8 2.5 2.75
26 June 2020 F iday 732 150 165 20.49 22.54
29 June 2020 Monday 732 150 165 20.49 22.54
30 June 2020 Tuesday 759 333 366.3 43.87 48.26
1 July 2020 Wednesday 1402 842 926.2 60.06 66.06
2 July 2020 Thu sday 732 114 125.4 15.57 17.13
3 July 2020 F iday 738 162 178.2 21.95 24.15
6 July 2020 Monday 755 210 231 27.81 30.60
7 July 2020 Tuesday 738 138 151.8 18.7 20.57
8 July 2020 Wednesday 747 219 240.9 29.32 32.25
Buildings 2022,12, 436 18 o 21
Table 6. Con .
E alua ed Day
To al Time
(min)
C ane Usage Time (min) C ane Usage Pe cen age (%)
Da e Day o he
Week
SW C ane
Occupancy 0.4
A e Taking
in o Accoun he
Coe icien k3
SW C ane
Occupancy 0.4
A e Taking in o
Accoun he
Coe icien k3
9 July 2020 Thu sday 738 138 151.8 18.7 20.57
10 July 2020 F iday 738 219 240.9 29.67 32.64
13 July 2020 Monday 750 243 267.3 32.4 35.64
14 July 2020 Tuesday 1420 866 952.6 60.99 67.08
15 July 2020 Wednesday 744 219 240.9 29.44 32.38
These esul s show ha du ing he documen ed mon h, he wo king hou s we e used
o he maximum ex en . The e was a signi ican ex ension o he wo k shi in he case
o h ee wo king days (24 June 2020, 1 July 2020 and 14 July 2020) due o he concu en
equi emen s o some cons uc ion sub-p ocesses o se ice om a c ane. A he same
ime, he owe c ane u ilisa ion is only somewha o e 60%. In his si ua ion a ec ing he
h ee wo k shi s, a sui able p oposed solu ion is o p e-supply he equi ed cons uc ion
sub-p ocesses whose na u e enables his, which could be done e en du ing he wo k shi s.
8. Discussion
The impulse o he de elopmen o a solu ion o his ask was he ac ha he me hods
cu en ly used in indus y p ac ice o he e alua ion o echnical pe o mance ha e become
ou da ed, inexac and unsui able. They a e ounded on he empi ical obse a ions and
in ui ion o expe ienced expe s and a e desc ibed in [3–5,18,33].
Ou i s a emp a esea ch in his di ec ion was he wo k Mo yˇcka e al. [
3
], which
is based on a s ochas ic app oach using queueing heo y, hough i only deals wi h he
a e age se ice ime o all CSPs. This led o imp ecise e alua ion esul s. The e o e, we
sea ched o new impulses and app oaches o dealing wi h he ask.
These a e con ained in he esea ch o Wu e al. [
24
,
26
,
27
], which is based on he
cons uc ion schedule o a building p ojec , and he ela ed equi emen s o he supply o
cons uc ion ma e ials. The op imising ma hema ical model de o es pa icula a en ion o
calcula ing delays caused when wo ke s a e o ced o wai o se ice om a busy c ane.
This is whe e ou model is simila . In compa ison wi h he me hod we de eloped, Wu e al.
do no deal wi h a de ailed analysis o he amoun o con eyed ma e ial, as in hei esea ch,
i is de e mined ia he use o a consump ion coe icien . This may lead o imp ecision in
hei esul s. Ou e inemen also occu s due o he de ailed analysis o he CSP, which we
di ide in o pa s wi h and wi hou se ice om a owe c ane. This enables concu en
demands om he CSP o se ice om a owe c ane o be moni o ed and e alua ed.
The wo k o Ta hini e al. [
29
] is a bene icial and inspi ing piece o esea ch. In hei
de e minis ic ma hema ical model, hey de e mine he bounda y condi ions o he esea ch.
These include he p e en ion o c ane collision and he se ing ou o se ice ask p io i ies.
A ques ion s ill emains wi h ega d o pa s o he cons uc ion p ocess in which se ice is
p o ided by wo coope a ing c anes. This emains un esol ed om he pe spec i e o he
p io i ies o he se ice o indi idual CSPs.
I would seem ha he use o neu al ne wo k applica ions is a e y inspi ing app oach
wi h ega d o u u e de elopmen s in his ield. The limi ing ac o is he necessa y amoun
o inpu da a. This is appa en om he wo k o Pe líko á[23].
I can be s a ed ha he p esen ed me hod o e alua ing he u ilisa ion o e ime o
owe c anes du ing he cons uc ion o monoli hic ein o ced conc e e buildings b ough
he expec ed esul s and can be used e ec i ely in p ac ice. The main bene i o his me hod
is he new simula ion model compiled in connec ion wi h a ne wo k cons uc ion g aph
and wi h ega d o he de ailed analysis and p edic ion o CSP se ice p io i ies. I uses
Buildings 2022,12, 436 19 o 21
exac inpu da a which is a ailable in he p ojec documen a ion. These new elemen s a e
impo an o he accu acy o he e alua ed u ilisa ion o e ime o c anes. Case s udies
we e employed o es i he e alua ion esul s a e in acco d wi h he eal si ua ion as
ega ds he u ilisa ion o e ime o owe c anes. Ob iously, he bounda y condi ions and
simpli ying assump ions used o he solu ion o he ma hema ical simula ions a ec he
p ecision o he esul s. Howe e , om he case s udies, i was clea ha his e ec was no
signi ican and ha i does no limi he gene al use o he me hod. The e alua ion me hod
was p esen ed o cons uc ing a monoli hic ein o ced conc e e s uc u e, bu i is also
possible o use i o o he s uc u al sys ems success ully a e analysis and he p epa a ion
o o he CSPs.
9. Conclusions
The cons uc ion indus y has had a signi ican and long- e m nega i e impac on
he s a e o he en i onmen and so i is necessa y o look o possible ways and means o
achie e he elimina ion o i s s ongly nega i e e ec s.
Sus ainable cons uc ion demands new equi emen s and app oaches o he p epa a-
ion, implemen a ion and ope a ion o buildings so ha s uc u es a e unc ional and ul il
s ipula ed equi emen s and en i onmen al, social and economic c i e ia.
The e icien use o cons uc ion machine y, including owe c anes, plays an impo an
ole in ul illing he en i onmen al and economic equi emen s o sus ainable cons uc ion
du ing he cons uc ion p ocess. Such machines di ec ly a ec he p oduc i e space o he
cons uc ion si e, labou p oduc i i y and cons uc ion ime, i.e., he en i onmen al and
economic c i e ia o sus ainable cons uc ion.
The p oposed me hod o he assessmen o he u ilisa ion o owe c anes o e ime
acco ding o cons uc ion sub-p ocess se ice p io i ies is a con ibu ion o a solu ion o
he op imum use o he p oduc i e space o he cons uc ion si e and he cons uc ion
pe iod in he a ea o he op imisa ion o he on-si e supply o p oduc ion sub-p ocesses by
owe c anes. A me hod was c ea ed o an exac app oach o assessing he u ilisa ion o
c anes o e ime— o a speci ic cons uc ion si e, ca ied ou a a speci ic loca ion, using
a gi en echnology and wi hin a ixed deadline. The me hod is based on a de ailed da a
analysis o a speci ic building si e, allowing o mo e accu a e esul s. The p edic ion o
he se icing o a CSP by a owe c ane, which is he basis o c ea ing a de e minis ic
simula ion model, can be conside ed a new con ibu ion o he heo e ical ield.
Wi h ega d o hei applica ion in cons uc ion p ac ice, he esul s o his wo k p o-
ide a quali ied c ane selec ion and e alua ion me hod o use du ing he p e-cons uc ion
phase, which conside s he equi ed speed o execu ion o a gi en building p ojec .
Wo k on de eloping he p esen ed me hods and so wa e o e alua ing he u ilisa ion
o e ime o owe c anes on cons uc ion si es is con inuing. Cu en ly, ano he de el-
opmen al model is being de eloped and p epa ed. I is he i h in a ow and i p ima ily
imp o es he usabili y o he use in e ace and acili a es he wo k o he use when en e -
ing inpu da a. In compa ison wi h o he app oaches and models by o he au ho s which
a e a ailable and men ioned in his con ibu ion, “C ane Occupancy 0.4” so wa e is able o
ob ain mo e p ecise esul s conce ning he u ilisa ion o e ime o c anes on a cons uc ion
si e. This is due o he de e minis ic app oach o he ma hema ical modelling so wa e,
which equi es calcula ions o be supplied wi h speci ic and p ecise inpu da a. This may
be mo e di icul and ime-consuming in compa ison wi h o he models, bu he esul
is no as bu dened wi h inaccu acies a ising du ing he en e ing o da a as in he case o
o he so wa e.
The p esen ed new me hod o he assessmen o he e ec i e use o owe c anes on
cons uc ion si es and i s ela ed applica ion, C ane Occupancy 0.4, which was de eloped
as so wa e o use in digi al en i onmen s, is a con ibu ion o he de elopmen o digi al
echnologies in cons uc ion as well as sma cons uc ion si es.
Buildings 2022,12, 436 20 o 21
Au ho Con ibu ions:
Concep ualisa ion, V.M. and M.Š.; me hodology, V.M., M.Š. and J.G.; so wa e,
M.Š.; alida ion, V.M. and M.Š.; o mal analysis, O.P., D.H. and R.K.; in es iga ion, M.Š.; esou ces,
J.G.; da a cu a ion, M.Š.; w i ing—o iginal d a p epa a ion, V.M. and M.Š.; w i ing— e iew and
edi ing, J.G.; isualisa ion, J.G.; supe ision, V.M.; p ojec adminis a ion, J.G.; unding acquisi ion,
J.G. All au ho s ha e ead and ag eed o he published e sion o he manusc ip .
Funding:
This esea ch wo k and con ibu ion is unded by Slo ak Uni e si y o Technology
in B a isla a.
Ins i u ional Re iew Boa d S a emen : The s udy did no equi e e hical app o al.
In o med Consen S a emen : No applied.
Da a A ailabili y S a emen :
The esul s p esen ed in he pape a e he esul s o he au ho s’
esea ch wo k.
Con lic s o In e es : The au ho s decla e no con lic o in e es .
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