NEW APPROACH FOR OPTIMIZATION OF OVERALL CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

This paper is concerned with one of the most important tasks in constr uction management-scheduling of construction project-and shows how to optimize the overall construction schedule. The current optimization m ethods seem to provide very little support for construction project ma nagers, as the managers require a schedule based on the simultaneous c onsiderations of several factors, such as investment allocation, total cost, resource supply, and weather. With a view of systematization, t he paper first quantitatively analyzes the factors that influence the overall construction schedule. It when indicates that the optimization of overall construction schedule must be closely combined with the in vestment allocation, resource supply, and weather. The relationships b etween these factors are analyzed, and their mathematical submodels ar e established. Based on these submodels, a mathematical model is then established with the objective of the best economic benefit (the lowes t construction cost). Finally, the solution of this model is provided, a computer program is developed to solve this model, and an example i s taken to show the procedures of solution.