Resource scheduling and planning for tunneling with a new resource model of the Decision Aids for Tunneling (DAT)

Abstract Resource scheduling and planning are the strategies required to determine the sequence of activities and resource allocation during tunnel construction. Resource scheduling and planning have been implemented in a new resource model of the Decision Aids for Tunneling (DAT), which are a computer based tool used to simulate tunnel construction. Tunneling plans obtained with the new resource model of the DAT take into account the technical precedence of activities, the resource/space availability, the dynamic status of the process, and the work continuity. In particular, the new resource model of the DAT can provide the optimal tunneling plan, which produces the shortest construction time and the smallest construction cost, and satisfies the special characteristics of tunnel construction such as excavation methods, distance requirements between the headings, and preempting activities (e.g., blasting). The paper attempts to contribute to both theory and practice: Optimization of the construction process considering time, cost and resources is particularly complicated in tunneling where activities and resource availability have to be appropriately sequenced and interference has to be avoided. The paper addresses this fundamental problem with the development of different schematic tunneling plans that consider the relevant activities and optimizes them with regard to overall cost and time, also considering uncertainties. Equally important is to make the theoretical development practically useable. This is done through implementation of the resource optimization in the DAT and, very importantly, by demonstrating the practical use with an application to a real tunnel case.