Collaborative multi-agent system for supporting construction equipment

This paper proposes collaborative multi-agent system for real-time planning and monitoring of construction sites. A multi-agent system framework is discussed to support construction equipment operators by using agents and field data capturing technologies. Data collected from sensors attached to the equipment, in addition to an up-to-date 3D model of the construction site, are processed by the multi-agent system to detect any possible collisions or other conflicts related to the operations of the equipments, and to generate a new plan in real time. Different algorithms for path planning, path re-planning, and centralized and distributed decision-making are investigated for using in the multi-agent system. The paper summarizes the undergoing research and a preliminary outdoor test for capturing field data.