Zahraie, B and Tavakolan, M (2009) Stochastic time-cost-resource utilization optimization using nondominated sorting genetic algorithm and discrete fuzzy sets. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 135(11), pp. 1162-1171. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In a construction project, the cost and duration of activities could change due to different uncertain variables such as weather, resource availability, etc. Resource leveling and allocation strategies also influence total time and costs of projects. In this paper, two concepts of time-cost trade-off and resource leveling and allocation have been embedded in a stochastic multiobjective optimization model which minimizes the total project time, cost, and resource moments. In the proposed time-cost-resource utilization optimization (TCRO) model, time and cost variables are considered to be fuzzy, to increase the flexibility for decision makers when using the model outputs. Application of fuzzy set theory in this study helps managers/planners to take these uncertainties into account and provide an optimal balance of time, cost, and resource utilization during the project execution. The fuzzy variables are discretized to represent different options for each activity. Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) has been used to solve the optimization problem. Results of the TCRO model for two different case studies of construction projects are presented in the paper. Total time and costs of the two case studies in the Pareto front solutions of the TCRO model cover more than 85% of the ranges of total time and costs of solutions of the biobjective time-cost optimization (TCO) model. The results show that adding the resource leveling capability to the previously developed TCO models provides more practical solutions in terms of resource allocation and utilization, which makes this research relevant to both industry practitioners and researchers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; costs; fuzzy sets; optimization; resource allocation; scheduling; stochastic processes |
| Index terms: | duration, time-cost trade-off, option, planner, resource levelling, fuzzy set theory, fuzzy set, resource allocation, resource utilization, case study, weather, construction project, practitioner, strategy, manager, cost optimization, scheduling, genetic algorithm |
| Subjects: | practitioner, air quality, profession, data collection methods, resource management, site logistics, operations research, production management, economics, algorithms, quantity surveying, management, decision-making and optimization, decision analysis, project controls |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Sustainability, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Time Control, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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