Title: An innovative decision support system for solving the renovation and expansion problems in operational infrastructure systems

Authors: Manar Shami

Addresses: School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA

Abstract: The expansion and renovation projects of the nation|s large infrastructure systems such as highways, airports, and nuclear power plants can be characterised by their complexity and high cost, especially when they interfere with a facility|s ongoing operations. Generally, major infrastructure systems are required to remain fully operational and minimally disturbed while expansion and renovation projects are taking place. This paper discusses the concept of disturbance, and addresses how to minimise the disturbance of construction and to reduce their impacts on ongoing operations. A disturbance model was adopted through the integration of stochastic simulation and project management packages. The model was validated in a major infrastructure case study. This research showed that substantial savings in infrastructure operations and construction cost could be achieved by the implementation of the developed model. It has been proved that modern information technology can be used effectively to deal with real and complex issues concerning our infrastructure. However, barriers to the transfer of the presented technology still exist. An overview of these barriers as well as the critical success factors that would make this technology applicable to airport organisations, are also discussed.

Keywords: decision support systems; DSS; disturbance matrix; infrastructure; integration; project management; renovation; simulation; airports.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2004.004654

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2004 Vol.3 No.2, pp.199 - 215

Published online: 26 May 2004 *

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