Challenge

How might we automatically generate and evaluate construction scenarios for a copper concentration plant planning and control teams so that they can analyze deviations and generate schedule, cost and resource recovery alternatives in minutes instead of days or weeks?

CODELCO wants to improve construction planning and control for a copper concentration plant by moving from static schedules and manual rescheduling toward a more dynamic, parametric planning environment.

The challenge aims to test a generative planning platform that automatically creates and evaluates execution scenarios, combining schedule, BIM, cost and resource information to help teams respond faster to deviations.

CODELCO

CODELCO is a Chilean state-owned mining company and one of the world’s largest copper producers. It operates major mining and processing assets across Chile, supplying critical minerals to global markets while advancing operational efficiency, technological innovation and more sustainable mining practices.

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Challenge framing

Current Situation

Planning is currently managed through single schedules and single scenarios in Primavera P6. When logistical delays, construction interferences, workforce variations, equipment unavailability or operational constraints occur, rescheduling is performed manually.

Each change requires planners to assess its impact on construction sequence, critical path, resources, costs and estimated completion date. This process can take days or weeks, limiting the ability to explore multiple “what-if” scenarios within useful decision-making timeframes.

Schedule information, BIM models, resource data and labor and equipment costs are also managed through separate sources. This creates repetitive manual work, limited visibility across variables, late detection of resource over-allocation or idle time, and high dependency on individual expert knowledge.

Desired Situation

CODELCO wants planning teams to automatically generate and evaluate construction scenarios in a parametric, traceable and data-driven environment.

The solution should link Primavera P6 schedules with BIM models and time, cost, resource and risk variables, generating comparable recovery, mitigation or acceleration alternatives in less than 30 minutes.

Each alternative should explain proposed changes, affected activities, required resources, expected schedule and cost impacts, risks and assumptions. Project specialists must remain able to review, modify, approve or reject every recommendation before it is incorporated into the official schedule.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders

Internal stakeholders
Vice Presidency of Projects, RT Sulfuros (specific plant) project management, planning and control, Primavera P6 planners and schedulers, BIM coordination, field managers, work front supervisors, cost control, risk management, procurement, logistics, IT and information security.

External stakeholders
Construction and assembly contractors, partner companies, equipment and materials suppliers, planning and BIM software providers, startups and technology providers.

Primary users
Site planners and schedulers, project planning and control managers, BIM coordinators and construction and assembly contract administrators.

Possible solutions

Possible Solutions

  • Generative construction planning platforms.
  • Automated “what-if” scenario generation and evaluation.
  • AI-assisted schedule optimization and rescheduling.
  • Intelligent resource leveling and allocation solutions.
  • 4D/5D BIM planning and simulation platforms.
  • Construction Digital Twin solutions.
  • Schedule, cost and resource optimization engines.
  • Recovery, mitigation and acceleration planning tools.
  • Decision-support platforms for project planning teams.
  • Explainable AI and scenario-comparison tools.

Technical Requirements

  • Ingestion and export of Primavera P6 schedules in .XER format.
  • Processing of BIM models in IFC or Navisworks formats.
  • Linkage between schedule activities and BIM components for basic 4D/5D integration.
  • Automated generation and comparison of multiple rescheduling scenarios.
  • Intelligent resource leveling, including detection of over-allocation and idle time.
  • Comparative simulation of schedule, cost, resources and risk.
  • Scenario generation using AI, simulation, optimization algorithms or operations research.
  • Traceable and explainable recommendations showing assumptions, constraints and proposed changes.
  • Mandatory human review, modification, approval or rejection before changes affect the official schedule.
  • Role-based access, secure data transfer, auditability and compliance with CODELCO information-security requirements.
  • PoC capability on a bounded construction work package, with a path to future scaling across additional packages, contracts and work fronts.
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