A framework to model the spread of infectious diseases on construction sites using hybrid agent-based modelling and Monte Carlo simulation

The construction industry has been severely affected by COVID-19 restrictionsresulting in several challenges in form of supply chain disruptions, performance loss, and limited workforce interactions. The construction industry initially needs to understand and quantify the impacts of COVID-19 on each aspect of the industry. Simulation techniques are powerful tools for this purpose, which enable modellers to run construction projects virtually and assess their performance under different circumstances, scenarios or settings. In this paper, a hybrid simulation framework is developed using agent-based modelling (ABM) and Monte Carlo simulation techniques (MCS) to evaluate the impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the performance of construction projects. The proposed simulation framework enables the construction modellers to capture the interactions between construction workers effectively and to determine the impact of restrictions on the overall project performance. It also helps practitioners in the post-COVID-19 era by testing multiple virus spread scenarios on construction sites and minimize the adverse impacts of restrictions on the project performance.