Integrating Efficient Resource Optimization and Linear Schedule Analysis with Singularity Functions
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137, Issue 1
Abstract
Resources perform or enable physical operations and thus are vital on construction projects, yet are subject to various constraints. Their use within a project schedule must therefore be carefully planned. A major objective is optimizing when they are active within the float of noncritical activities to avoid disruptive and costly fluctuations. This paper builds on analyzing criticality of linear schedules with the unique singularity functions. The new approach keeps resources intact and derives one flexible equation for the complete resource profile of a schedule, including any timing or resource rate changes. Another equation models its first moment of area to minimize the objective function toward a level profile. A genetic algorithm is suitable for an iterative optimization. The parameters of its chromosomes are recombined evolutionarily and can model any permutation. Analyzing a road project illustrates how singularity functions integrate resource optimization with its linear schedule and facilitate a subsequent optimization.
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Acknowledgments
The writer thanks Dr. Arash Massoudieh for the inspiring discussions about genetic algorithms.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 45 - 55
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 21, 2010
Accepted: Jun 7, 2010
Published online: Jun 10, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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