Artificial Intelligence in Project Management
APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
By Axel Gaarslev
Technical University of Denmark
Department of Construction Management
INTRODUCTION
BACKPROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS
The Department of Construction Management at the Technical
University of Denmark has for a number of years beers involved in developing different toots baaed on artificial intelligence techniques and most of the toots have been developed in close collaboration with the construction industry in Denmark. The teds developed have been different expert systems, knowledge-based systems and neural networks, each designed to offer decision support to a specific type of problem.
This paper will describe a small segment of these tools, as the paper will only focus on the latest and probably the most promising technology: neural networks. Only neural networks based on simple, standard software (Brainmaker Professional from California Scientific Software) for standard PC’s - affordable to industry and easy to use by the project manager himself - will be covered.
The paper will give a short introduction to the technology, describe in some detail an application for analyzing polluted sites and based also on further cases from practice finally offer some general conclusions on the potential to the construction industry of this kind of technology.
The human brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons. Each of these ceils is like a very small computer with extremely limited capacity
- yet connected together, these cells form the most intelligent system known. Neural networks area class of computer systems formed from simulated neurons, connected to each other in a network simulating the way, that we believe the brain’s neurons are connected.
The networks in this study are based on the so called feedforward, backpropagation algorithm. In this algorithm learning is simulated in much the same way, as we think people learn, by examples and
By Axel Gaarslev
Technical University of Denmark
Department of Construction Management
INTRODUCTION
BACKPROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS
The Department of Construction Management at the Technical
University of Denmark has for a number of years beers involved in developing different toots baaed on artificial intelligence techniques and most of the toots have been developed in close collaboration with the construction industry in Denmark. The teds developed have been different expert systems, knowledge-based systems and neural networks, each designed to offer decision support to a specific type of problem.
This paper will describe a small segment of these tools, as the paper will only focus on the latest and probably the most promising technology: neural networks. Only neural networks based on simple, standard software (Brainmaker Professional from California Scientific Software) for standard PC’s - affordable to industry and easy to use by the project manager himself - will be covered.
The paper will give a short introduction to the technology, describe in some detail an application for analyzing polluted sites and based also on further cases from practice finally offer some general conclusions on the potential to the construction industry of this kind of technology.
The human brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons. Each of these ceils is like a very small computer with extremely limited capacity
- yet connected together, these cells form the most intelligent system known. Neural networks area class of computer systems formed from simulated neurons, connected to each other in a network simulating the way, that we believe the brain’s neurons are connected.
The networks in this study are based on the so called feedforward, backpropagation algorithm. In this algorithm learning is simulated in much the same way, as we think people learn, by examples and
References: Engineering Stanford, CA, 1968. on Management, Quality and Economics in Housing and other Building Sectors, Lisbon, Portugal, 1991. of Construction Management Technical University of Denmark, 1991. Lawrence, J. and Lawrence, M., “ Brainmaker Professional”, California Scientific Software, Grass Valley, CA, 1990. Nielsen, J. and Schäffer, V., “Resource Planning under Uncertainty (in Danish)”, Thesis Department of Construction Management, Technical University of Denmark, 1991. Park, W., “Construction Bidding for Profit”, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1979. PITTSBURGH, PA Papers Presented: Sept. 21-23, 1992