Application framework for development of simulation tools

Development of specialized construction simulation tools is a time-consumin g and complex operation. This has hindered the effective and wide use of si mulation in the construction industry. An object-oriented application frame work is a promising software engineering principle, which can help in overc oming this obstacle. Application frameworks encapsulate reusable code as we ll as common design patterns for a specific class of applications so that d evelopment of new tools is greatly simplified. This paper describes this ne w principle and applies it to the development of a construction simulation object library. A case study performed to compare the efforts between frame work- and nonframework-based simulation tool development revealed that prod uctivity can be dramatically improved.