Construction management in space : explore solution space of optimal schedule and cost estimate

Multi-planetary life is one of humanity's audacious dreams. One of the key challenges towards this dream is the design and construction of space habitats, for instance, on the Moon or Mars. To achieve these dreams, new partnerships and stakeholders emerge, such as: clients that define the inter-planetary mission, space habitat designers, space general contractors and subcontractors, and launch service providers. Their diverse perspectives broaden the set of interdependent goals, objectives, questions, and decision criteria that need to be addressed in innovative ways in order to make informed joint decisions. How can space construction project partners make informed joint decisions and leverage new construction methods and cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, VR, robotics, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing robots that are developed and transform the AEC terrestrial industry? This research study presents a space construction decision framework (SCDF) experimental prototype developed and tested to address this question. SCDF aims to assist space construction project partners in exploring "WHAT-IF" scenarios and evaluating the solution space towards the optimal cost, schedule, and resource allocation that address the mission client's goals and needs. State-of-the-art research discusses the characteristics and specifications of space habitats, which provided design insights and a valuable starting point for this study. This study is at the intersection of six practical and theoretical points of departure reflecting knowledge and technology and their application: Space Construction Decision Framework (SCDF): General Contractor Workflow; Building Information Modeling (BIM); Generative Scheduling and Construction Schedule Optimization; Construction Robotics; 3D Printing; and virtual reality (VR) and Visualization. A specific focus of the SCDF study is on how to apply virtual design and construction (VDC) to model-simulate-optimize-visualize-validate the space construction project in order to explore the solution space from concept design to construction completion in the virtual environment before any mission is launched. This process is critical to ensuring project performance. To achieve the SCDF research goals, I applied the principles of the Design Thinking and PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT (PDSA) frameworks implemented in an iterative rapid prototyping approach. This Engineer thesis presents 10 rapid prototyping iteration cycles implemented to develop and test the proposed SCDF prototype that addresses:  PLAN-Mission.  DO-Model habitat, Select Robot, and Process Model for 3D Printing and Schedule Optimization. For the scope of the SCDF rapid prototyping iterations, I used one of the proposed space habitat designs proposed by the team from Pennsylvania State University in response to NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge.  STUDY-Simulate-Optimize-Visualize-Validate solution space of construction schedule, cost, and resources.  ACT-Decide based on exploring and evaluating the interdependencies between cost-schedule-resource to choose an optimal schedule and maximal resource allocation and utilization that minimize monetary and environmental costs. The contribution of this research is the exploration of the solution space in an extra-terrestrial construction environment. It confirmed that there are insights from terrestrial construction that apply to extra-terrestrial construction and vice versa. The rapid prototyping approach leveraged existing concepts of the space building project, robots, and 3D printing research for the SCDF prototype. This research contributes insights to each of the six practical and theoretical points of departure. The study provides contributions at three levels: 1. The space construction decision framework (SCDF) - Formalized, developed, and tested the SCDF - Developed methodology to estimate cost and schedule of 3D printing projects 2. Extensions to existing platforms - Extended 4D simulation (ALICE, Fuzor VDC VR) to address continuous construction activities - Extended the Robotic Evaluation Framework (REF) to include space construction-related variables. 3. New approaches and methods - Developed an approach to preparing the model to respond to the constraints and specifications of selected robots. - Developed method Perform micro-level simulation as structural simulation - Identified and developed an approach to execute on-site manufacturing of temporary structures

Advisor: Fischer Martin