Fuzzy Scheduling of Repetitive Construction Projects

Uncertainty is an inherent characteristic of construction projects. Neglecting uncertainties associated with different input parameters in the planning stage could well lead to misleading and/or unachievable project schedules. The objective of this paper is to present a new approach towards scheduling repetitive construction projects while accounting for uncertainty. The paper presents an algorithm that quantifies anticipated delays resulting from different sources of uncertainty in the form of fuzzy time buffers. Through inserting the time buffers in strategic places in a time schedule, the algorithm provides protection against those main anticipated delays. The presented algorithm comprises two integrated components, a scheduling component responsible for producing a basic Linear Scheduling Method (LSM) schedule with deterministic activity durations, and a buffer component that handles fuzzy buffers sizing and insertion. The presented algorithm offers four different buffer insertion techniques covering different cases of interrelations between successive activities. The algorithm is implemented in a spreadsheet application, which automates calculations, yet allows users to fine tune the algorithm to fit the project at hand. With a focuses on highway construction projects as an example of repetitive construction projects, this paper accounts for sources of uncertainty such as weather, site conditions, change orders and equipment related delays. A hypothetical case is studied and explained to further demonstrate how the proposed algorithm works.

[1]  Jennifer Grey,et al.  Buffer Techniques For Stochastic Resource Constrained Project Scheduling With Stochastic Task Insertions Problems , 2007 .

[2]  Daniel W. Halpin,et al.  ANALYZING LINEAR CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS USING SIMULATION AND LINE OF BALANCE , 1992 .

[3]  Alan D. Russell,et al.  New Generation of Planning Structures , 1993 .

[4]  Ahmed Hassanein,et al.  Planning and scheduling highway construction using GIS and dynamic programming , 2002 .

[5]  Xiaoming Zhang,et al.  Buffer sizing method with considering effect of various uncertainties based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method in critical chain scheduling , 2011, 2011 2nd IEEE International Conference on Emergency Management and Management Sciences.

[6]  James David Lutz.  Planning of linear construction projects using *simulation and line of balance , 1990 .

[7]  Chachrist Srisuwanrat,et al.  The Sequence Step Algorithm: A simulation-based scheduling algorithm for repetitive projects with probabilistic activity durations , 2009 .

[8]  David B. Ashley.  Simulation of Repetitive-Unit Construction , 1980 .

[9]  Simaan M. AbouRizk,et al.  Simulation-Based Scheduling with Continuous Activity Relationships , 1998 .

[10]  Donncha Kavanagh.  Siren: a repetitive construction simulation model , 1985 .

[11]  Bolivar Antonio Senior-Brown.  A study of the planning and integrated cyclic analysis of serial system operations , 1993 .

[12]  David W. Johnston.  LINEAR SCHEDULING METHOD FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION , 1981 .

[13]  Fritz Gehbauer,et al.  AN INTEGRATION OF A BUFFERING ASSESSMENT MODEL BASED ON FUZZY LOGIC WITH LPS™ FOR IMPROVING HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROCESS , 2010 .

[14]  Kamran Rezaie,et al.  Duration Estimation, a New Approach in Critical Chain Scheduling , 2009, 2009 Third Asia International Conference on Modelling & Simulation.

[15]  Yongyi Shou,et al.  Estimation of project buffers in critical chain project management , 2000, Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology. ICMIT 2000. 'Management in the 21st Century' (Cat. No.00EX457).

[16]  Khaled A El-Rayes,et al.  Optimized scheduling for repetitive construction projects , 1997 .

[17]  I-Tung Yang,et al.  Repetitive project planner: Resource -driven scheduling for repetitive *construction projects. , 2002 .