Towards 5D CAD — Dynamic Cost and Resource Planning for Specialist Contractors

Abstract

This paper proposes development of 5D CAD models and methods to provide decision support to specialist contractors. Specialist contractors have finite resources that they must allocate to multiple, concurrent projects. This is a challenge because changes in project schedule and scope are a common occurrence, requiring continual reallocation of resources among projects. Costs to the specialist contractor in this environment are a non-linear function of multi-project resource allocation and cannot be simply summed across projects. Existing 4D CAD models exist in a single project context and do not support specialist contractors' resource allocation decisions. 5D CAD models supporting dynamic cost and resource planning in a multi-project context must be developed. 5D CAD models require the information detail of 4D CAD models. By modeling resource allocation choices, 5D CAD models will improve the cost and schedule recommendations of 4D CAD models, improving our ability to manage projects as well as improve subcontractor cost and resource planning.