Estimating the productivity of cyclic construction operations using case-based reasoning

The estimation of productivity rates in cyclic construction processes is a difficult, but essential task in the planning of construction projects. The conventional method--a calculation by intuition--for devising such estimates is often laborious and inaccurate. To overcome these difficulties this paper proposes that Case-Based Reasoning could be employed to provide estimates from historical cases of construction. To this end a model, Case-Based Estimator (CBE) is presented. CBE is a small model, consisting of five input features, one output and a small case base, and it is suggested that the findings within this paper could be applied to any small model of similar characteristics--not only within the construction field. The development and implementation of the model is discussed and an experiment was performed to assess the ability of two retrieval mechanisms (one a simple mathematical formula, the other an adaptation of the ID3 decision tree generating algorithm) to measure similar...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2004
• Where: AEI
• Authors: Darren Graham, Simon D. Smith
• Keywords: AEI 2004, Model, Small Case Base, Small Model