Building beyond the booth
improving logistics for the construction of trade fairs
R.J.M. Tjeerdsma (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
M. Yousef Maknoon – Mentor (TU Delft - Transport and Logistics)
M.B. Duinkerken – Mentor (TU Delft - Transport Engineering and Logistics)
Mark ten Oever – Mentor (RAI Amsterdam)
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Abstract
Trade fairs bring together suppliers from specific industries or fields, offering them a valuable platform to showcase their products, gather information on competitors, and find potential partners. During construction, materials that are not yet in use are often stored in pathways. When multiple stands are under construction simultaneously, pathways can get increasingly congested, resulting in stands becoming inaccessible, safety risks and delays. Despite the importance of managing these issues, no scheduling method has been developed to address these challenges to date. To fill this gap, this research introduces a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model designed to improve the construction scheduling process at trade fairs by incorporating the predicted impact of scheduled workspace availability on delays as a factor in scheduling decisions. A case study at RAI Amsterdam was performed to collect data and validate the model. The improved schedules proposed by the MILP model are estimated to reduce average aisle material storage by 3.1%, variance in material storage density by 38.9%, and workspace interferences by 18.0%. When accessibility constraints were relaxed, even greater gains were achieved, with reductions up to 10.7% in material storage and 64.6% in interferences. Simulation runs with varying input variables showed that the degree improvement varied by hall layout, stand density, and available construction time, with island layouts and additional setup time yielding the best results. The most recurring and clear scheduling strategy applied by the model was letting stands furthest away
from the accessible safety paths start first, followed sequentially by closer stands. Overall, the model provides a practical scheduling approach to reduce congestion and enhance safety, offering a useful tool for trade fair organizers.