Application Framework for Development of Simulation Tools

TLDR

Developing specialized construction simulation tools is time‑consuming and complex, limiting their widespread use; an object‑oriented application framework can simplify this by encapsulating reusable code and design patterns. The paper introduces and applies an object‑oriented application framework to develop a construction simulation object library. They develop a construction simulation object library by applying an object‑oriented application framework. A case study comparing framework‑based and non‑framework‑based tool development showed that the framework approach dramatically improves productivity.

Abstract

Development of specialized construction simulation tools is a time-consuming and complex operation. This has hindered the effective and wide use of simulation in the construction industry. An object-oriented application framework is a promising software engineering principle, which can help in overcoming this obstacle. Application frameworks encapsulate reusable code as well as common design patterns for a specific class of applications so that development of new tools is greatly simplified. This paper describes this new principle and applies it to the development of a construction simulation object library. A case study performed to compare the efforts between framework- and nonframework-based simulation tool development revealed that productivity can be dramatically improved.