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Construction Site Path Planning Optimization through BIM

Conference Paper · June 2019

DOI: 10.1061/9780784482421.047

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 Computing in Civil Engineering 2019 369

Construction Site Path Planning Optimization through BIM

Siyuan Song, Ph.D.1; and Eric Marks, P.E., Ph.D.2
1
School of Construction and Design, Univ. of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr., Box 5138,
Hattiesburg, MS 39406, U.S. E-mail: siyuan.song@usm.edu
2
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 790 Atlantic
Dr., Mason Building, Atlanta, GA 30332, U.S. E-mail: eric.marks@ce.gatech.edu
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ABSTRACT
Equipment travel path planning is one of the significant components of construction site
layout design. Navigating a terrain and determining the shortest path on a construction site is one
fundamental concern in path planning. The major constraints used for our path planning process
is the shortest path between desired cycle locations and obstacle avoidance. By implementing
building information modeling (BIM) as a project communication platform, automated
equipment path planning within a dynamic construction environment becomes possible. This
created BIM-based path planning strategy also enables construction managers to plan and
schedule equipment operations with other project stakeholders. The objective of this research is
to design a BIM-based strategy and automated path planning method to calculate and display an
efficient equipment travel path in a BIM environment. The research framework is tested with
active construction sites data. The feedbacks from workforce and management is assessed and
integrated into the research approach.

INTRODUCTION
Construction site path planning is typically performed using manual methods of experienced
construction management personnel. Productivity is influenced by construction equipment travel
paths on a given construction site. Navigating a terrain and determining the shortest path on a
construction site is one fundamental concerns in path planning. Safety issues, existing facilities
and overall productivity will all impact the equipment travel path. Numerous pieces of moving
construction equipment pose significant risk to pedestrian workers in terms of safety and overall
productivity. Equipment travel path determination during the planning phase of the project
allows for elimination of potential hazards and allows for a more efficient operation cycle.
Construction project managers are integrating BIM into many aspects of a project including
building life cycle, design (Penttila 2007), planning, constructability (Kymmell 2008) and
operation (Akcamete et al. 2010). The research aims to automatically calculate and display an
efficient travel path for equipment through BIM.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Pradhananga and Teizer found that pro-active measures can greatly advance the field of site
preparation, planning, and controlling, including better organize job site layout, equipment
operation and utilization, and job safety analysis (Pradhananga and Teizer 2013). Equipment
travel path planning is a significant part of site logistics including construction site layout
planning (CSLP) and safety planning. This literature review aimed to find suitable travel path
algorithms and explore functions in BIM that can help designing an optimal travel path and
finally improving the overall construction site productivity. The following sections reviewed
construction site layout planning, methods of designing construction equipment travel path, and

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BIM application in construction.

Construction Site Layout Planning

Mostly, construction sites are very complex with multiple existing facilities, materials
laydown and motorized equipment. In different phases of a construction project, the construction
site layout is dynamic with multi-functions. For example, tower cranes and land cranes present
significant obstacles for travel paths and their position are always changing, and finally impede
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construction productivity. Xu and Li proposed a fuzzy random multi-objective decision-making

model to enhance dynamic CSLP (Xu and Li 2012). The development of a multi-objective site
layout optimization system can help improving construction safety, construction-related security
level, and user’s visibility of the generated optimal site layout plans (Khalafallah and El-Rayes
2011). Construction site model can assist designer to analyze construction site constraint,
identify potential problems and maximize field productivity and safety (Li et al. 2008). An
optimal CSLP can help project managers and planners to design a better construction site under
conflicting multiple objectives, such as construction cost reduction and ease of supervision and
control (Ning et al. 2011). The application of path planning can help to find the optimal path
with shortest path, lower risks, and higher visibility between two site locations (Soltani et al.
2002).

Table 1: Current Travel path methods

Method Description
Mainly used for determining the shortest paths from a
Dijkstra’s Algorithm starting node to a goal node with graphs (Dijkstra 1959,
Soltani et al. 2002)
Uses a heuristic function h(n) to estimate the cost of the
A* star Algorithm lowest cost path from a start node to a goal node plus the
path cost g(n) (Hart et al. 1968, Soltani et al. 2002)
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Post-processed trajectory information from UWB signals
sensor technology for populate an occupancy grid use for path planning to
optimizing construction suggest optimal paths for workers while generates
site operations optimal paths for vehicles (Cheng et al. 2011)
Floyd-Warshall Computes shortest path between arbitrary pairs of
Algorithm vehicles (Cheng et al. 2011)
A possible solution technique and includes a theoretical
Genetic Algorithm example of positioning temporary facilities (Mawdesley
et al. 2002)
Path planning with obstacle avoidance starts from the
construction of the complete set of paths from source to
Binary tree Algorithm target in the tangent visibility graph that possible paths
that are in the direction of the target and respect the
visibility condition are considered (Rashid et al. 2013)
An optimization technique based on swarm intelligence
Ant colony Algorithm to find the shortest and collision-free route in a grid
network (Brand et al. 2010)

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Methods of Designing Construction Equipment Travel Path

Previous work on path planning analysis in construction focused on three principal
categories: 1) safety consideration, 2) earthmoving vehicles, and 3) efficient site layout design.
Multiple constraints have been considered into a travel path design algorithm including shortest
path, obstacle avoidances, lower risk, minimum noise pollution, minimum transport cost, and
higher visibility. In order to achieve these goals, researchers have found and tested various
categories of path planning methods as shown in Table 1.
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BIM Applications in Construction

The success of BIM depends on many factors such as the size of the project, the
communication of the project team, as well as other organizational external factors (Barlish and
Sullivan, 2012). It incorporates all the building components including geometry, spatial
relationships, properties and quantities (Zuppa et al. 2009). BIM provides safety checking
integration for dynamic safety analysis before construction starts (Zhang et al. 2013), and
dynamic construction site safety management (Sulankivi et al. 2010). BIM has been widely used
during the design phase so as to most efficiently address the concerns of the designers,
constructors and project owners. Constructors can achieve benefits from using BIM during the
preparation of schedules and estimates process, as well as tracking and managing changes to the
project and shop drawings while managing site logistics and temporary structures and services
with particular attention to site safety (Aslani et al. 2009). One survey shows that BIM was most
frequently perceived of as a tool for visualizing and coordinating AEC work and avoiding errors
and omissions and improving the productivity, schedule, safety, cost and quality of construction
projects (Zuppa et al. 2009).

METHODOLOGY
Construction equipment travel path is a significant issue of construction which has been
discussed a lot but rarely provide a good plan to achieve optimal success. The goal of this
research is to create a framework for routing plans in the early stages of engineering. Many
constraints should be considered during constructability phases of the design prior to field
execution, for example, existing buildings, crane panel, materials and equipment laydown areas,
and other construction facilities, such as office and parking lot. A 60×60 Construction site is
created in Revit as the simulation model for this study.
Constraints including shortest path and avoid obstacles were considered into the design
process. The A* Algorithm on a grid-based approach was selected as the path planning method
for this research. All possible node is generated into each square and each node has six
orthogonal directions. This approach is achieved by building a MATLAB code, the unoccupied
node is marked as 2, obstacles are marked as -1, and the start point is marked as 1 where the end
point is marked as 0. In this way, the code is established by using A* algorithm to find the
optimal path from node 1 to node 0 in all the possible nodes which was marked as 1. Nodes that
have been marked as -1 is the obstacles that are automatically excluded from the optimal path.
As a result, the optimal path will be the shortest path between the start point and the end point
and avoid obstacles.
Developers work inside of Revit system and build new functions and keep them in a separate
project file which is represented as new Revit ribbons. The Autodesk Revit application
programming interface (API) allows programmers to change elements in BIM directly or to

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access the data to perform specialized tasks. The user interface was designed through Revit API
on a simulated construction site to create the optimized path (Table 2).

Table 2. User Interface Functions

Revit Add-ins Description
Automatically read the coordinates of each components on the
ReadCoordinates selected construction site, based on the selected relevant point, an
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excel file is created including all (x, y) coordinates information.

Automatically read the optimal path from an excel file created by
Optimal_path MATLAB and then plot the optimized travel path in the selected
construction site model.

The logic of the designed optimal path framework is presented in Figure 1, the first step is
determined if there is an existing Revit model, then the following steps will lead to finding an
optimal path automatically. Figure 2 shows the envisioned relationships and data transitions
through Revit, Excel, and MATLAB. The first step of the interface is for a user to select “Read
Coordinates”. This selection will allow users to select existing building and facilities on a
construction site, start point, end point, and a relative coordinate. An Excel file is automatically
created including all the boundary coordinates (x,y) of all the components. The next step is run
MATLAB code of the coordinates to get an optimized path. The MATLAB code is planned to
automatically output the coordinates of the efficient path into an excel file. The final step is
another add-in created in Revit. Once this selection has been made, the generated path is
presented in a BIM automatically. By taking advantage of using Revit API, the optimal path
seeks the shortest distance between the start point and end point and avoid obstacles will be
automatically calculated in MATLAB and then plot in the original Revit model (Figure 3).

Figure 1. Framework for Path Planning Optimization

Figure 2: Relationships between Revit, MATLAB and Excel file

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Figure 3. Optimal Travel Path in MATLAB and Revit.

Also note that the type, location, and size of any components in the construction site can be
changed to any value, as well as the size of the construction site. Users can also randomly select
the position of a start point and an end point. In this way, during different construction phases or
during the construction site layout design process, users only need to simply add obstacles and
select start and end point, an optimal path will be plotted in Revit model automatically.

Validation
An internal and an external validation were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the
equipment path planning tool on construction sites. Internal validation consisted of the researcher
randomly selecting active construction sites and evaluate the abilities of the tool in that
environment. This study randomly picked 10 real construction sites on Google map. By
randomly selecting a start point and an end point, Google map provides the real distance between
these two points (Figure 4). A digital aerial photograph of the construction then redrawn by the
researcher in BIM to evaluate the effectiveness of the created tool on active construction sites. In
Figure 6, white boxes are the simplified obstacles, white line with a distance value beside it is the
real distance of the existing travel path between the selected two points, and the green line
represents the optimal path by using the optimal path tool. The average percentage increase or
decrease of the equipment travel path then be determined based on the travel path calculated by
the created tool and the actual path implemented by the construction site. Table 3 shows the final
comparison results, with an average decreasing of 31.96%, the equipment travel has been
improved by using the optimal path method.

Figure 4. Create the Simplified Construction Site in Revit

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Table 3. Average Path Decreasing Compare to the Existing Path

Existing Path Optimal Path Reduced
Type Location
(meter) (meter) (%)
University building Tuscaloosa, AL 83.19 72.06 13.38%
Hospital Birmingham, AL 166.18 110.16 33.71%
Midtown Atlanta, GA 158.24 54.99 65.25%
Trader Joe's Austin, TX 160.67 116.10 27.74%
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Apartment San Antonio, TX 180.56 87.3 51.65%

Leasing office Houston, TX 100.40 87.86 12.49%
Dollar Tree Fort Worth, TX 626.29 323.80 48.30%
Apartment Louisville, KY 74.73 69.1 7.53%
Elementary school Emeryville, CA 218.44 132.39 39.39%
Walmart Cheektowaga, NY 303.11 241.96 20.17%
Average 31.96%

From Table 3, the construction site areas with larger size significantly enhance the accuracy
of reliable optimal path findings. Computational results from Chen et al. study already
mentioned that the size of the impact area would have a significant impact on both accuracy and
computational performance of the proposed solution algorithm (Chen et al. 2012). This previous
research results can explain the reason for the internal validation results.
External validation was completed by sending a survey to several experienced construction
engineers. The company, location, and type of construction project were varied among the expert
review panel. The researcher presented the path planning tool to members of the expert review
panel and ask several questions to properly quantify their feedback.
Comments from these discussions were recorded and analyzed to identify the content and
frequency of each statement. For each question, panel members were asked to rate the survey
questions based on their past experiences and understanding of the tool. The question provided
ordered responses of; strongly disagree, disagree, unsure/neutral, agree, and strongly agree.
Table 4 provides a statistical analysis of each answered question.

Table 4. Path Planning User Interface Review Responses

Survey Question Minimum Maximum Average
There is a need to integrate optimization tools into existing
3 5 4.6
project management tools.
It will be useful for project managers to visualize planned
2 5 3.9
travel paths in 3D models
The proposed tool would be easy to use. 3 5 3.7
The proposed tool is implementable. 3 5 3.7
The proposed tool would enhance productivity for
2 5 3.6
equipment travel paths.
The proposed tool would be effective in construction site
2 5 3.6
planning.
Overall, the proposed tool would be effective in improving
2 5 3.3
project management.

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With a relatively high average score of 4.6 of survey question 1, people strongly believed
that there is a need to integrate optimal tools into existing project management. And most
reviewers also believed that it will be useful for project managers to visualize planned travel path
in 3D models. These means the development of an optimal path within a BIM is highly needed in
the real construction industry. Above half of the reviewers agreed that the proposal too is easy to
use and is implementable and will also enhance productivity for equipment travel paths. The
average score of survey question 5 is 3.3, which means most people agreed that the proposed
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optimal path tool is effective in improving project management.

CONCLUSION
BIM has proven through previous research efforts to be programmable and to display results
of computing algorithms. The research developed a strategy and automated tool to calculate and
display an efficient equipment travel path through BIM. A variety of research contributions have
been completed at the end of this study. These contributions provide new scientific evaluation
data and knowledge in the areas of construction productivity associated with construction
equipment travel path. The research took advantage of the Revit API to create users’ own custom
tools. By using Autodesk Revit API, extend the capabilities of an existing application by writing
a program or script that adds new functionality to the software. This optimal path tool aims to be
used in planning stages to help sequence the work throughout the development of a project. From
both internal and external validation results, this tool is completely effective overall on a project
which is user-friendly for the field staff to constantly update and manage. The field staff can
easily add in any obstacles on a construction site such as buildings, crane pads, scaffolding. An
efficient equipment travel path can be calculated and displayed in BIM. Human Machine
Interface is a growing concern for construction, numerous pieces of moving equipment pose a
significant risk to people, future research will also want to separate people and machines on a
construction site to reduce injury and increasing productivity.

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