Abstract
Earthwork cost is one of the major cost items (approximately 25% of the construction costs) in road construction projects. The amount of earthwork volumes therefore earthwork cost, mostly depends on the geometry of the road vertical alignment. We can conclude that an optimized vertical alignment has a profound impact on earthwork costs. In this research paper, we solve the task connected to the minimization of earthwork cost by optimizing vertical alignment by the development of linear optimization model with different categories of unknown variables including vertical offsets between road and surface in different points as well as extremum points’ numbers. Proposed linear optimization model is supposed to be implemented with application of simplex method as the component of complex branch and bound approach. The developed model has been implemented on the basis of practical example. After the optimization of vertical alignment, earthwork volumes have been calculated in the road design software with average end area volume calculation method. We also have provided numerical results which include earthwork volumes and cost improvements over preliminary design.
Highlights
A road construction project involves many operational steps
The developed linear optimization model provides integrated solution which includes optimization of vertical alignment, and accurate calculation of earthwork volumes with the help of road design software
Minimizing earthwork volumes by optimizing vertical alignment is a difficult road engineering problem for computers to solve without human guidance
Summary
A road construction project involves many operational steps. Planners need an accurate existing terrain model of the project area in order to design a layout of the road. Road layout (geometry) consists of three main parts: horizontal alignment, vertical alignment (profile), and cross-section. All parts of road geometry should be taken into consideration to design a cost-effective road project. Once the layout of the roadway has been created, general earthwork operations can begin. We will use earthworks term as cut and fill operations in this paper. Cut and fill are the processes of constructing of the roadway which are characterized by large amount of earth material which is being excavated and filled
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