Fuzzy Linear and Repetitive Scheduling for Construction Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147, Issue 3
Abstract
Unavoidable risks that cause uncertainty within activity durations should be modeled to gain realism in scheduling. While approaches exist for one-dimensional network schedules, two-dimensional linear and repetitive schedules that track both work and time lack such a method. Fuzzy logic can express variability by modeling optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic cases, which, in this study, form a cone of expected activity durations. Previous studies attempted to apply it to linear and repetitive schedules but suffered from inconsistencies that rendered their results incorrect. Therefore, this research proposes a new fuzzy scheduling method. Its contribution is threefold. First, it models linear or segmental activities as continuous yet flexible fuzzy cones. Second, it explicitly expresses continuous buffers in both the time and work/space dimensions to compose an efficient schedule from such inputs. Third, it identifies their full or partial fuzzy criticality and fuzzy float so that managers can split their attention accordingly. It is illustrated by a validation example, which also explains prior inconsistencies. The industry thus gains a new method that considers uncertainty to generate stable and efficient schedules.
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Data Availability Statement
All data generated or analyzed during the study are included in the published paper. Information about the Journal’s data-sharing policy can be found here: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001263.
Acknowledgments
The first author gratefully acknowledges Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—CAPES Foundation), Ministry of Education, Brazil, for the 2015 Brazil Scientific Mobility Program.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147 • Issue 3 • March 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 23, 2020
Accepted: Sep 23, 2020
Published online: Jan 4, 2021
Published in print: Mar 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 4, 2021
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