Knowledge‐Based Planning System

Abstract

Network‐based techniques as planning tools are widely used in the construction industry. They have proven effective for certain types of projects. However, these techniques have many limitations. They are usually carried out in an unstructured form with considerable reliance on the planner's judgment, imagination, and intuition. They require abstract visualization of the perceived configurations, characteristics, and spatial relationships among various components of the project. Because of limitations in the current planning techniques, there is a need for the development of new techniques. These techniques rely on advanced visual tools in addition to construction knowledge rules defined by planning experts to enhance and automate the planning process of complex projects. The availability of advanced computer technology (both hardware and software) allows both researchers and practitioners in the construction industry to develop such techniques. This paper presents KNOW‐PLAN, a knowledge‐based planning system proposed by research being done at Virginia Tech. The system integrates artificial intelligence (AI) technology with computer‐aided design (CAD) technology to generate and simulate construction plans. The system can be classified as a new direction in approaching a planning problem that integrates AI and CAD.