Resource constrained project scheduling: Modelling with multiple alternatives

A generalized resource constrained project scheduling model is developed. In addition to incorporating common generalizations to the resource constrained project scheduling problem, this model can also handle any of the major scheduling objectives, alternative activity completion modes, and the simultaneous scheduling of multiple projects. Furthermore, this approach makes the general project scheduling problem amenable to solution by commercially available mixed integer/linear programming software. The central concept is the split of activities and the allocation of different resource usage rates. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the approach and its advantages.