A review of methods and algorithms for optimizing construction scheduling

Abstract

Optimizing construction project scheduling has received a considerable amount of attention over the past 20 years. As a result, a plethora of methods and algorithms have been developed to address specific scenarios or problems. A review of the methods and algorithms that have been developed to examine the area of construction schedule optimization (CSO) is undertaken. The developed algorithms for solving the CSO problem can be classified into three methods: mathematical, heuristic and metaheuristic. The application of these methods to various scheduling problems is discussed and implications for future research are identified.

Minimization of direct costs in the construction of torrent control structures

“…The constraint in Eq. (5) states that the total time of activities on the critical path is equivalent to desired time to project completion. The constraints in Eq.…”

“…Project activities are an important project scheduling component which is characterized by precedence constraints, duration and resource requirements [4]. Precedence constraints are related to activity start time which must be no earlier than before all the precedence activities are completed [4,5]. All project activities have a duration which could be changed, depending on the amount of resource utilization (material, labour, mechanization).…”

The multi-mode, resource-constrained project scheduling problem in construction: state of art review and research challenges

“…Similarly, contractors are trying to optimise these project parameters. The lower the cost, the higher the profit; the shorter the duration, the lower the risk of not fulfilling the deadlines, the lower the risk of inflation, and the lower the risk of encountering a shortage of skilled labour [43]. The dependencies between time and cost of a project are taken into account in multimode, resource-constrained, time-cost, trade-off problems (MRC-TCT or RC-TC), [25].…”

“…[24]. To create a schedule, one has to determine the order of tasks and their start times -this has to be performed in such a way that specific objectives of the project are achieved whilst at the same time, fulfilling organisational conditions and conforming to planning constraints [11,17,26,43]. Some of the construction project planning objectives include: minimising the duration of the project; minimising or providing evenness of the resources consumption; maximising the construction project economic value for the contractor [11,43].…”

Crew Allocation System for the Masonry Industry

“…Koo et al (2016) developed a multi-objective optimization model for vertical transportation of lift cars for workers in a skyscrapper construction. A review of the aspects and modelling approaches in personnel allocation in construction can be found in Brucker et al (2011), Zhou et al (2013) and Faghihi et al (2015).…”