Menesi, W; Golzarpoor, B and Hegazy, T (2013) Fast and near-optimum schedule optimization for large-scale projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(9), pp. 1117-1124. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Real-life construction projects are large in size and are challenged by many constraints, including strict deadlines and resource limits. In this paper, constraint programming (CP) is used as an advanced mathematical technique that suits schedule optimization problems. A practical CP optimization model has been developed to resolve both deadline and resource constraints simultaneously in large-scale projects. The proposed CP model is much faster than metaheuristic techniques and provides a set of feasible project durations that do not violate resource limits. The paper compares the CP results with several case studies from the literature to prove the practicality and usefulness of the CP approach to both researchers and practitioners. The CP model of this paper could provide solutions within 6.5% deviation from optimum schedules for a large project of 2,000 activities within minutes of processing time. This paper thus contributes to introducing a superior optimization model that is suitable for large-size projects and helps to render schedule optimization a mainstream cost-saving function within commercial scheduling systems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | constraint programming; cost and schedule; large-scale projects; resource constrained scheduling; schedule optimization; scheduling; time-cost tradeoff |
| Index terms: | scheduling, constraint programming, practitioner, construction project, tradeoff, case study, deviation, duration, resource constraint |
| Subjects: | production management, decision analysis, operations research, financial and cost management, algorithms, project controls, data collection methods, practitioner, operations management |
| Topics: | Project Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Cost Management, Time Control, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here