Content area
Abstract
This research project describes a site layout design environment that has been constructed to enhance site manager's ability to design and organise the construction site with safety as the main objective. The present site layout design and organisation methods do not adequately address construction site safety during the site layout process. There are also limitations to the systems, methods and practices presently used in addressing construction site safety. The research effort involves two major activities: (a) the compilation of a knowledge base from review of published literature on site layout design, review of safety manuals, and elicitation of expert knowledge from construction practitioners; (b) the development of a virtual environment, for site layout design and organisation. The VR environment offers the unique opportunity to visualise the safety implications of different site layout configurations. The prototype system (SAFESITE) developed is applicable to both new site layout designs, as well as evaluating the safety implications of existing site layouts. SAFESITE have an interface that allows a step by step interactive construction of the site layout plan. One of the most significant aspects of the technology is its ability to improve decision making on site layout design and organisational issues. The advantage of the system is that it automatically checks the layout configuration of the temporary facility, as and when it is positioned or relocated within the site. Thus the site layout planner gets familiar with SAFESITE quickly and can generate different 'what-if scenarios within a relative short time. The research concludes that the system demonstrates a proactive approach towards construction risks reduction and also a new way of visualising and solving construction site layout problems.