An integrated simulation-DEA approach to multi-criteria ranking of scenarios for execution of operations in a construction project

The purpose of this study is to examine different scenarios for implementing operations in the pre-construction phase of a project, based on several competing criteria with different importance levels in order to achieve a more efficient execution plan. This paper presents a new framework that integrates discrete event simulation (DES) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to rank different scenarios for execution of construction operations. First, a simulation model is developed. Then, the model is run several times for each scenario to arrive at a quantitative evaluation of all competing criteria. Finally, DEA is used to compare the efficiency of different scenarios. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study that employs an integrated approach based on computer simulation and DEA to concurrently incorporate several inputs and outputs with different importance levels for ranking scenarios of complex construction operations. Project managers can use this framework for assessment of different scenarios of conducting operations and choose the best one that reduces indices such as resource cost and waste in time, while at the same time enhances other criteria such as resource utilization and labor productivity.