Title: A prototype for project management game development using high level architecture

Authors: Ronald Ekyalimpa; Simaan M. AbouRizk; Yasser Mohamed; Farzaneh Saba

Addresses: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2W2, Canada

Abstract: Construction games teach students various concepts of managing project risks, making critical resource allocation and utilisation decisions, activity sequencing and other related construction issues. Past game development environments range from programs running monolithically on standalone computers to synthetic environments that support distributed modules (programs) running concurrently on different computers. This paper discusses one such environment, the construction synthetic environment (COSYE) based on high level architecture (HLA), which has potential as a game development environment. Then a framework for developing project management games within COSYE is proposed, based on experiences from previous game developments. Examples of games discussed include the bidding game, a tunnelling game and a crane lift planning game. This framework is meant to simplify game development. The paper highlights specifications for an administrator, a player and a simulator module.

Keywords: game prototypes; project management games; game development; HLA; high level architecture; COSYE; construction synthetic environment; process modelling; construction games; resource allocation; resource utilisation; activity sequencing; bidding game; tunnelling game; crane lift planning game; simulation games; higher education; construction education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2014.064384

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2014 Vol.9 No.3, pp.131 - 145

Received: 14 Jan 2013
Accepted: 04 Sep 2013
Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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