In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course

CE505 – CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Published Journal Article Critical Review Sheet

TITLE OF ARTICLE Holonic execution system for real-time construction management
AUTHOR/S B. Naticchia, A. Carbonari, M. Vaccarini, R. Giorgi
JOURNAL PUBLISHER Automation in Construction
YEAR PUBLISHED 2019

ARTICLE’S PROBLEM STATEMENT

The study attempts to answer variability and contingencies that are always encountered in the execution phase ask for
close monitoring and dynamic planning of construction works. Planning can no longer be limited to the pre-execution
phase because there will always be changes in the existing plan and schedule.

ARTICLE’S MAIN GOAL / OBJECTIVE / PURPOSE

The study aims to improve its productivity figures in the construction industry. Provide accurate costing and scheduling
to come up with efficient construction activities.

ARTICLE’S SPECIFIC GOAL OBJECTIVE/S

The study aims to perform automatic construction site management or support site managers, depending on the level
of embedded intelligence. Combine the potentials of hierarchical and heterarchical systems and are capable of self-
organization and multi-objective optimization.

ARTICLE’S SIGNIFICANCE
The study is important to increase productivity in the construction industry. Construction activities should be arranged
so that a certain set of flows are available and executed efficiently. This approach has led to the development of flow-
based construction management, which formally represents activities and flows and computes their execution
variability

ARTICLE’S TYPE OF INQUIRY ( PUT  TO THE TYPE OF RESEARCH)

 Quantitative research
 Qualitative research
 Quantitative and qualitative research or Mixed Method research 

ARTICLE’S RESEARCH DESIGN

The current study utilized Holonic management systems in collecting needed information by performing simulations
using holonic framework seems capable of modelling management systems, because it can substitute the traditional
hierarchical planning structure with a collaborative clustering scheme, still meeting all the high-level project
requirements.

ARTICLE’S SPECIFIC DATA COLLECTED

The current study gathered data from the respondent about their preliminary tests highlighted the effectiveness of the
creation of instant communication between production units or holons, however, there are still some technology
limitations to be overcome before this new technology can be embedded in real-world construction processes.

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ARTICLE’S METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The study analyzed the data using feasibility tests of the holonic execution system were implemented in Matlab™
computation and simulation environment. Decision making in a holonic execution system is made at the resource holon
and order holon levels. When the user triggers the system, the task and time constraints are extracted from the project
masterplan and the order holon is created. The order holon asks the product holon for the product and process
specifications and the correct execution procedure, the resources needed and the product specifications are retrieved.
The order holon then loads the BIM model with the desired product characteristics from an IFC data source and asks
for information about productivity, hourly costs and moving speed to all the resource holons involved, which get these
data from their ERP.

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE’S FINDINGS

The current study found that real-time construction management determined several challenges, due to the inherently
dynamic and complex nature of construction works. Construction industry is urgently in need of tools that can increase
productivity and manage such dynamicity at the execution phase.

CONTRIBUTION OF THE ARTICLE’S FINDINGS TO THE CURRENT LITERATURE

The current study’s findings are similar/contrary to the study of using general lean principles be adapted into practices
that are tailored to the characteristics of construction projects. Also traditional methods perform activity-based planning
and their failure is attributed to the uncaptured causal-effect relationships that exist among the project variables.
Activities are considered as if dynamically unrelated, which has been regarded as a limitation for the applicability of
CPM-based networks and the cause of the schedule and cost overruns experienced in many projects.

IMPLICATION OF THE ARTICLE’S FINDINGS TO CURRENT PRACTICE

The current study’s findings may be used by the industry practitioners through/by improving the flaws and applying
Holonic Management System in the construction management. Applying this study to the current practice would
improve the efficiency of the construction industry. This study is capable of performing dynamic management and
making decisions both at a local and global level, according to what is more convenient in terms of time, computational
effort and communication burden

AREA/S FOR FUTURE RESEARCH SUGGESTED BY THE ARTICLE

The current study recommends future research on test the system for the management of several projects applying
different technologies. In addition, the control of space and paths should be included in the simulation system. The high
level decision making system represented by the staff Holon should be enhanced with intelligent systems, so as to
make this platform fully automated

NAME OF STUDENT Obligado, Aisim C.

DATE SUBMITTED March 19, 2020
LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT BEST BETTER GOOD POOR
(PUT A  TO THE EXTENT OF
YOUR REVIEWSHIP)
Percentage equivalent  99-100 90-98 81-89 75-80
GPA equivalent  1.00 1.25-1.75 2.00-2.50 2.75-3.00