Construction Schedule Optimization Research Articles

Construction management in space: explore solution space of optimal schedule and cost estimate

Multi-planetary life is one of humanity's audacious dreams. A key challenge towards achieving such a space mission is the design and construction of space habitats, for instance, on Mars. This paper presents a virtual space construction decision framework (SCDF) prototype developed and tested to address the question: "How can space construction project partners make informed decisions and leverage new construction methods and cutting-edge technologies that are developed and transform the AEC terrestrial industry?" We consider six practical and theoretical points of departure reflecting knowledge and technology and their application towards developing SCDF: General Contractor Workflow; BIM; Generative Scheduling and Construction Schedule Optimization; Construction Robotics; 3D Printing; Virtual Reality (VR) and Visualization. SCDF development applied virtual design and construction (VDC) to model - simulate - optimize - visualize - validate a space construction project by exploring the solution space in the context of extra-terrestrial construction environments from concept design to construction completion in the virtual environment before any mission is launched. Results confirm that insights from terrestrial construction apply to extra-terrestrial construction and vice versa. These insights contribute to the six points of departure at three levels: 1. The SCDF; 2. Extensions to existing technology platforms; 3. New approaches and methods.

Multi-objective optimization design of steel structure building energy consumption simulation based on genetic algorithm

Abstract In order to solve the problems of data acquisition, quantitative analysis and model solving in the field of construction schedule optimization, a construction schedule optimization system based on genetic algorithm was constructed. On this basis, the construction schedule two-stage multi-objective optimization models of “duration-cost” and “fixed duration-resource equilibrium” are established, which aim at the lowest cost and resource equilibrium. Through the investigation and analysis of the project contract documents, the energy consumption and cost of the normal construction and emergency construction state of the contract plan of the basic project part (from the beginning of precipitation activities to the end of +0) are obtained. This section was optimized for the analysis. The genetic algorithm is used to solve the model, and the optimal duration of each process and the optimal start time of non-critical process are determined. The feasibility and effectiveness of the system and model are verified by practical application in the actual project, which provides support for determining the construction schedule scientifically and reasonably and helps to improve the construction schedule technical application effect and construction schedule management level.

Component-level construction schedule optimization for hybrid concrete structures

Hybrid concrete (HC) structures are being promoted in China, as well as in other countries. The construction process of HC structures differs from that of traditional cast-in-situ (CiS) structures in two aspects: 1) the construction unit for HC structures is no longer a floor or a construction zone, but a single component, 2) both PC components and CiS components exist in HC structures, and are usually being constructed in parallel. Thus, the optimization of component-level construction schedule considering the construction sequence of different PC and CiS components is necessary for HC structures. However, existing studies about construction sequence optimization or schedule optimization have not taken such aspects into account. To fill the research gaps, this study proposes an approach to optimize the component-level construction schedule for HC structures. An optimization model for the component-level resource-constrained project scheduling problem for HC structures (C-RCPSP-HC) is formulated, involving the precedence relationships and resource constraints, with the objectives of the minimization of the construction makespan and the construction cost. To solve the C-RCPSP-HC model, a multi-objective discrete symbiotic organisms search (MODSOS) is developed to obtain the non-dominated solutions. A case study originated from a real project is conducted to verify the proposed approach. The result shows: 1) the component-level construction schedule optimized by the proposed approach is superior to the traditional construction zone-level construction schedule in eliminating construction conflicts, and contributes to shortening the makespan, decreasing the cost, and enhancing the resource utilization efficiency, 2) the proposed MODSOS has better comprehensive performance than other competitive multi-objective optimization algorithms in solving the C-RCPSP-HC model, as far as convergence, spread, and spacing are concerned. For future improvement, the estimation of the construction durations of activities from historical data will be done by using artificial intelligence methods. Besides, Building Information Modeling will be integrated to automate the data extraction.

Research on Construction Schedule Optimization of Assembly Building Based on NSGA-II

Considering multiple possible scenarios in the process of project construction, the prefabricated project scheduling problem is studied in combination with the theory of multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem. Multi-objective multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling model with time/robustness trad-offs was constructed. Next, the adjusted non-dominated genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was designed to solve the model. Finally, the proposed model and algorithm were implicated to a real project, in order that research achievement can guide managers to make decisions and invest resources scientifically and reasonably.

Study on construction schedule optimization of bored pile based on genetic algorithm

The site construction management of traditional filling pile has some disadvantages such as redundancy of data, difficulty in finding data, low working efficiency and poor timeliness. Thus, combined with the actual needs of filling pile construction management, based on the Java language, the mobile phone client of filling pile construction information management system was developed, and the mobile client system framework, operating process and functional framework were designed and illustrated. The software provided an advanced management method for the filling pile construction, it had great value to guarantee the construction progress and improve the information level of construction management.

Multiobjective Construction Schedule Optimization Using Modified Niched Pareto Genetic Algorithm

AbstractA construction schedule must satisfy multiple project objectives that often conflict with each other. While several earlier approaches attempted to generate optimal schedules in terms of several criteria, most of their optimization processes were segmented into multiple steps. Owing to such a lack of simultaneous optimization, limited alternative solutions could be searched and some trade-offs between goals could not be identified. This paper presents an optimization approach that enables a simultaneous search for an optimal construction schedule in terms of three objectives: minimization of construction duration, cost, and resource fluctuation. A multiobjective optimization (MOO) approach was adopted to generate scheduling solutions considering all those objectives. To enable a simultaneous optimization, we propose a new data structure that can compute the performances of solutions in terms of all the objectives at the same time. A Niched Pareto Genetic Algorithm (NPGA) is modified to facilitate ...

Construction schedule optimization for high arch dams based on real-time interactive simulation

The construction process of high arch dams is extremely complicated. Therefore, optimization of the construction schedule is essential for construction management to save a large amount of time and investment costs. Construction simulation is an important tool for the construction schedule optimization of high arch dams. Most current studies involving construction schedule simulations do not concurrently consider real-time construction situations and site managers' requirements. In this paper, the real-time interactive simulation is proposed that could solve this problem. The real-time construction process is the initial condition of the simulation, and the actual construction parameters are the basis of the simulation parameters. Additionally, site managers can change the simulation strategy dynamically or enter requirements based on real-time construction situations. For a simulation result, different schemes are optimized with the entropy weight method. With this method, the construction simulation can track the rapid changes in construction situations and provide a reasonable construction schedule, which increases the flexibility of the construction simulation. The optimized construction scheme could be an effective guide for site construction. With a 4D (three dimensional model and time) CAD model, the simulation process can be well expressed. A case study shows that the construction schedule can be established in real time, and it's a useful tool for decision-making.

Development of Construction Cost Assessment Methods during Preparation for Tender

Successful development of a construction company under the market economical conditions depends on the number of contracts for construction works awarded to the company, usually on the competitive basis. The winner of a tender is chosen from the participants that have previously proved their qualification at the prequalification stage, on the basis of two criteria: bid price and construction period. Bid price is the key factor which is of the most importance to the client. It is based on contractor’s estimation of construction cost. The most common construction cost assessment methods use the valid estimate norms calculated on the basis of the averaged work costs which do not consider fluctuation of actual market prices for different kinds of resources and the chosen methods and technologies of facility construction. This paper aims to provide the basis for the development of accurate cost assessment method which is based on the actual market prices for all kinds of resources and on the methods and technologies of facility construction chosen be the contractor, rather than on the valid estimate norms. The main task therefore is the development of the key principles and sequence of construction cost assessment during preparation for tender. The offered assessment method is based on construction schedule illustrating the time association of all construction processes and is the basis for determination of the actual volume of the required resources and funds at each time point of facility construction. Given the many-sidedness of the arising problems, construction cost assessment should be conducted based on the following principles: construction schedule optimization; accounting of market cost of resources; generating the best plan of construction resource provision; cost minimization and financial flow optimization; risk accounting; project approach. Using these principles during assessment of facility construction cost within the framework of bid preparation allows increasing its competitive ability according to the main winner choice criteria – construction cost and periods.

Optimization for Limited Resource Schedule in Public Construction Project

The optimization of scheduling is an important aspect of the construction project plan, the paper proposes applying improved ant colony optimization to solve the public construction projects scheduling optimization problem under limited resource condition and constructs the mathematical model of the project construction schedule optimization. Further verify the validity of the model and the improved ant colony optimization on the schedule of the optimization problem solving has universal applicability.

Research of Construction Schedule Optimization using Particle Swarm Optimization

The particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based approach to resolve the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing project duration is introduced in this paper. Computational analyses are provided so as to investigate the performance of the PSO-based approach for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. The results shows that it is feasible to apply PSO to construction schedule optimization.

Research of Construction Schedule Optimization using Particle Swarm Optimization

Research of Construction Schedule Optimization using Particle Swarm Optimization

資源山積みの局所区分平準化を考慮した工程計画アルゴリズムの開発

We have developed a scheduling algorithm, which simultaneously levels resourcece profiles in both the total time span and local time intervals, for plant construction schedule optimization. Resource leveling in local time intervals minimizes resource peaks through a heuristic search method with a target profile.The developed scheduling algorithm has been experimentally evaluated with realistic construction data of a power plant. The resulting profile from overall resource leveling have been improved with the local resource leveling function. From the results it is confirmed that the local leveling is helpful in resource peak reduction.