Evaluation of the Resource-Constrained Critical Path Method Algorithms
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131, Issue 5
Abstract
This study evaluates the resource-constrained critical path method (RCPM), which the writers have recently proposed. RCPM establishes a critical path method (CPM)-like, resource-constrained schedule by resource-dependent activity relationships (or resource links) that the five-step RCPM technique identifies. With its CPM-like feature, RCPM provides the critical path and float data that are not available in traditional resource-constrained scheduling techniques. In addition, RCPM provides more flexibility to the schedule through identified alternative schedules, which allow certain activities to be executed beyond their late finish times without delaying the project completion. This paper evaluates the RCPM’s performance by comparing it with five related previous studies. A brief review of each study is also included in this paper. This comparison shows that RCPM performs well in identifying resource links and alternative schedules, compared to other methods. This study is of interest to academics because it highlights the advantages and disadvantages of different algorithms that have attempted to overcome present problems in traditional resource-constrained scheduling techniques.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research work described in this paper was funded by the Virginia Tech Construction Affiliates’ Center for Construction Improvement and the National Science Foundation. The opinions and findings are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsors.
References
Bartholomew, S. H. (1998). Construction contracting: Business and legal principles, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Bowers, J. A. (1995). “Criticality in resource-constrained networks.” J. Oper. Res. Soc., 46(1), 80–91.
Bowers, J. A. (2000). “Multiple schedules and measures of resource-constrained float.” J. Oper. Res. Soc., 51(7), 855–862.
Callahan, M. T., Quackenbush, D. G., and Rowings, J. E. (1992). Construction project scheduling, McGraw-Hill, New York.
de la Garza, J. M., Vorster, M. C., and Parvin, C. M. (1991). “Total float traded as commodity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 117(4), 716–727.
Fondahl, J. W. (1991). “The development of the construction engineer: Past progress and future problems.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 117(3), 380–392.
Just, M. R., and Murphy, J. P. (1994). “The effect of resource constraints on project schedules.” AACE Trans., DCL.2.1–6.
Kelley, J. E., Jr. (1963). “The critical-path method: Resource planning and scheduling.” Industrial scheduling, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 347–365.
Kim, K., and de la Garza, J. M. (2003). “Phantom float.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 129(5), 507–517.
Lu, M., and Li, H. (2003). “Resource-activity critical-path method for construction planning.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 129(4), 412–420.
Melin, J. W., and Whiteaker, B. (1981). “Fencing a bar chart.” J. Constr. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng., 107(3), 497–507.
Moder, J. J., Phillips, C. R., and Davis, E. W. (1983). Project management with CPM, PERT, and precedence diagramming, 3rd ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Ritchie, E. (1985). “Network based planning techniques: A critical review of published developments.” Further developments in operational research, Pergamon, New York.
Wickwire, J. M., Driscoll, T. J., and Hurlbut, S. B. (2001). Construction scheduling: Preparation, liability, and claims, 2001 cumulative supplement, Aspen Law & Business, New York.
Wiest, J. D. (1964). “Some properties of schedules for large projects with limited resources.” Oper. Res., 12, 395–418.
Woodworth, B. M., and Shanahan, S. (1988). “Identifying the critical sequence in a resource constrained project.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 6(2), 89–96.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131 • Issue 5 • May 2005
Pages: 522 - 532
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 24, 2003
Accepted: Jun 7, 2004
Published online: May 1, 2005
Published in print: May 2005
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.