3D AR-based modeling for discrete-event simulation of transport operations in construction

This study proposes a 3D visualized modeling method for DES of transport operations in construction. The 3D simulation model built is a virtual field scene with property settings. AR technology was further applied to allow the use of a real-world image as the modeling background, which pictorially presents the current status of the real site as a visual basis for modeling. A typical transport operation was analyzed to determine the component classes for modeling. Then the visual representation and attributes of each modeling component class were proposed, along with modeling rules to build the 3D simulation model. A prototype system with STROBOSCOPE as the simulation engine was developed for presenting the proposed modeling method. A set of transformation rules was proposed for converting a 3D simulation model to a STROBOSCOPE input file. The system automatically extracts the simulation output and animates the 3D model to visually demonstrate the simulation result.