|
Site layouts may affect construction costs. Models and algorithms in the area of facility layout and location are used in this research to assist construction management in reducing material handling and transportation costs. A simplified approach named rectilinear distances method is applied to evaluate and improve an original site layout that normally generated by site engineers according to their intuition. In order to identify winner, the most influential facility, transportation distances, times,and handling costs are analyzed based on a "from-to chart". Costs variation for reallocation of the winner can be evaluated by using the median condition approach, a method of single facility location. Contours showing cost changes due to the movements of the winner can also be established. A case study is included to show the potential benefits by using the proposed approach.
|