Enhancements to Highway Construction Scheduling Expert System.

摘要

This research was performed to enhance the software tool (Illinois Construction Scheduling Expert System, ICSES) developed in Phase I of this project (ICT project R27-86) by mining data collected on IDOT construction projects and differentiating production rates based on project type and size, and training for IDOT engineers on effective use of the expert system tool. The researchers obtained Illinois Construction Record System (ICORS) data from each district and assembled a statewide database of more than 4,000 projects completed from 2003-2014. Rich production rate data was extracted from the ICORS files by analyzing the resident engineers’ daily diaries and other historical records and processing this data for use in the ICSES software. The results of the data analysis give the scheduler templates of a variety of highway construction projects with the controlling items associated with those projects and the order in which the activities typically occur. The ICSES software was updated based on the results of the analysis of the ICORS data. Templates were modified and/or added in the existing Excel-based database. Production rates currently given in the Construction Daily Production Rate table (Bureau of Design and Environment Manual, Table 66-2.B) were updated based on analyses of data generated by the research. Users of ICSES are given information to assist in development of a schedule and engineers’ estimate of time based on project parameters.