An Artificial Neural Networks Model for the Estimation of Formwork Labour

Journal of Civil Engineering and Management
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2011

An Artificial Neural Networks Model for the Estimation of Formwork Labour
S. Umit Dikmen  & Murat Sonmez

Abstract:

 Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is a problem solving technique imitating the basic working principles of the human brain The formwork labour cost constitutes an important part within the costs of the reinforced concrete frame buildings. This study suggests a method based on artificial neural networks developed for estimating the required manhours for the formwork activity of such buildings. The introduced method has been verified in the study with reference to
the test conducted involving two case studies. In all cases, the model produced results reasonably close to actual field measurements. The model is a simple and quick tool for the estimators and planners to aid them in their work.

FannTool;

...For the training, testing and running the ANN model proposed, software named FANN Tool is selected. FANN Tool is part of a free open source neural network library named “The Fast Artificial Neural Network Library – FANN” (FANN 2010). It is the graphical user interface (GUI) to the FANN library which allows its easy usage without the need of programming. This tool enables the users to prepare the data in FANN library standard, and design, train, test and run the artificial neural network model. The reasons of  selection of this software are simply its ease of use and its free availability. Thus even the
small construction companies with limited information technologies (IT) capabilities can download and start using immediately...