GIS-based dynamic construction site material layout evaluation for building renovation projects

Material layout is critical in construction planning. A poor material layout causes site congestions and the inaccessibility of certain materials, leading to project delays and cost overruns. Site material layout is mainly constrained by space and time that have to be considered in an integrated manner, which is very limited in the existing literature, particularly for building renovation projects that are typically constrained by a tight space. This study proposed a new concept, e.g. Material Accessibility Grade (MAC), to quantify the material accessibility throughout the project duration. A material layout evaluation model (MLEM) was created based on the MAC concept to integrate space and time. The MLEM was implemented on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform and applied in a building renovation project. It was found that besides plan assessment and comparison, the MLEM could also detect spatial-temporal conflicts and suggest mitigation measures to improve material accessibility and reduce time waste. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.