Development of an Integrated Management Simulation Model for Pipeline Construction

Abdelhamid, Abdelhamid Abdullah; Nassar, Khaled; Mandour, Alaa

doi:10.21608/erj.2025.358280.1199

Development of an Integrated Management Simulation Model for Pipeline Construction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Helwan University - Faculty of Engineering Mataria - Department of Architectural Engineering - Egypt

² The American University in Cairo - Faculty of Engineering – Construction Department – Egypt

10.21608/erj.2025.358280.1199

Abstract

This study develops and validates a dynamic management simulation model tailored for pipeline construction projects, addressing the current lack of real-time, predictive decision-support tools in this sector. The primary objective is to create a framework that integrates Digital Twin (DT) technology with discrete-event simulation (DES) to enhance responsiveness, accuracy, and adaptability in planning and execution phases. The model is built in AnyLogic and leverages live data inputs from IoT sensors, procurement systems, and geotechnical assessments to reflect on-site variability.
Construction activities such as trenching, welding, and backfilling are simulated in a time-sequenced, data-driven environment, supported by cloud-based updates and interactive dashboards. The model was tested against two real-world case studies—one in mountainous terrain and one in flat conditions—demonstrating forecasting accuracy with less than 2% deviation in total duration and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) below 5% for weekly progress predictions.
This research contributes a validated, pipeline-specific simulation model that offers actionable insights for proactive schedule control, resource optimization, and scenario forecasting, distinguishing itself through bidirectional data flow, adaptive simulations, and real-time integration with construction systems.

Keywords