Collaborative agent-based system for multiple crane operation

Operating cranes in a construction project should meet several requirements of capacity, safety and spatial constraints. Much research has been done about selecting cranes, simulating the work processes, training operators and optimizing working paths to improve the efficiency and reduce conflicts in real construction operations. However, most of the research focused on equipment working individually rather than coordinating multiple works, such as the case of two cranes working together to lift a heavy or large object. The complexity of coordinating equipment requires more detailed planning and better real-time control of the work. The present paper proposes a new approach using artificial intelligent agents to enhance communication between two cranes and resolve distributed problems in the construction industry. A framework is developed to simulate the working environment of two cranes on site. A simulation model is under development using a case study to investigate the feasibility of the proposed approach.