Framework for the selection of heavy construction equipment

With the high cost of heavy construction equipment, contractors are striving to select the most cost-effective equipment. The process of selecting a suitable equipment is a key factor in the success of any construction project. This decision should account for equipment productivity, capacity, and cost, among other factors such as environmental and social impacts. However, selecting the most appropriate equipment from the available options is a difficult and highly challenging task. This study suggests selection criteria then proposes a framework for selecting the most appropriate equipment for construction operations. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire survey was first conducted among leading contractors in the United Arab Emirates to elicit information pertaining to the selection criteria of equipment. Based on the findings of the survey, a framework was structured to help construction contractors select the right equipment for their operations. The framework includes five main modules: 1) construction operations module; 2) types of construction equipment module; 3) equipment data module (i.e., productivity, cost, efficiency, etc.); 4) equipment selection criteria module; and 5) selection criteria features and calculations module. As a future extension to this study, the suggested framework will be used to develop a dynamic system that will allow contractors update the equipment selection databases in order to include new equipment, update cost data, and add new selection factors. The findings of this study are expected to guide contractors in making the correct and most economical decisions when selecting heavy equipment for construction operations and, therefore, keep them competitive locally and internationally.