Multi-objective Billiards-Inspired Optimization Algorithm for Construction Management Problems

Abstract

This paper introduces an efficient multi-objective algorithm for handling multi-objective problems. The main genesis of this metaheuristic is the game of billiards and the physical background of the collision between balls, which govern its process. Due to reinforcing this algorithm for handling multi-objective problems, an external repository for storing non-dominated solutions, the maximin strategy for grouping balls, and a roulette-wheel selection mechanism for choosing pockets from the repository are employed. The proposed multi-objective billiards-inspired optimization algorithm (MOBOA) performance is verified using ten unconstrained multi-objective mathematical benchmark functions, including bi-objective and tri-objective cases with different characteristics. The application of this algorithm is examined in three constrained construction project management problems management including construction site layout planning, building materials design, and project scheduling. The results show that MOBOA is able to provide competitive trade-off solutions with acceptable convergence and uniform diversity.