Computerized System for Efficient Scheduling of Highway Construction (05-2330)
Tarek Hegazy, University of Waterloo, Canada

A practical model for scheduling and cost optimization of highway construction is presented in this paper. The model’s objective is to minimize total construction cost while respecting the time and resource constraints of a project. For flexibility, the model allows each activity to have three alternative construction methods, from cheap and slow to fast and expensive. At the core of the model is an innovative scheduling algorithm for crew assignments along the various highway sections so that work continuity is maintained. For cost optimization, the model uses a non-traditional optimization technique, Genetic Algorithms. Details of the model formulation are presented in this paper along with its implementation in a simple-to-use computer system. To demonstrate the capabilities of the system, a realistic example is used of a highway project that is fast-tracked using two sets of crews working simultaneously from opposite sides. The example showed the usefulness of the system for what-if analysis, schedule optimization, and legible presentation of detailed crew assignments and activities’ progress speeds. Future extensions of the model to incorporate project control features are then highlighted.