Current Challenges in the Application of Agent Theory to Construction Management in Innovative, Intelligent Field Factory

This research project is a part of IMS IF7 titled "Innovative, Intelligent Field Factory," which is one of IMSresearch projects in Japan. The research program of IF7 consists of the three work packages. In work package 1, particular emphasis will be placed on realization of modularized construction system. Work package 2 includes fundamental studies on automated construction systems. In work package 3, studied is the application of agent theory to construction management. The work package 3 has the three tasks. Task 1 is to develop virtual construction dynamic simulation systems. In task 2, studied is field factory transparency where detailed information, proactive advises and guidelines in all locations are accessible electronically by workers for thinking and decision-making. Task 3 is to apply agent theory to safety management, resources management, facility management and large-scale distributed information management. This paper presents on-going research activities of the working package 3.