Ant colony optimization (ACO) in scheduling overlapping architectural design activities

Abstract

The increasing complexity of architectural design works refers to the need for high quality design solutions for overlapping activities through a shorter time period. Conventional network analysis techniques such as CPM could only represent sequential processes yet it is unable to handle a process which contains iterations so that it leads to the occurrence of unwanted omission of logic or information links between design activities. Ant Colony Optimization emerged as an efficient metaheuristic technique for solving computational problems in finding good paths through graphs. This research aims to develop an ACO based Design Activity Scheduling model (ACO-DAS) for the scheduling of overlapping architectural design activities and to test the workability of ACO-DAS through a hypothetical run. From the computational results of both CPM and ACO methods, the determination of critical path using ACO-DAS model resulted in a design duration at 50 while that for CPM was as long as 78. The durations of architectural design activities have been significantly shortened by ACO-DAS. ACO-DAS results in shorter design completion time thus it deems more advanced than CPM.

Keywords:

• ant colony optimization
• design activity scheduling
• CPM
• overlapping architectural design activities
• metaheuristic technique

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chen Wang

Chen WANG. He is Dr, a Distinguished Professor in Faculty of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, China, and also an Associate Professor of Construction Innovation and Project Management in the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya. He was a senior engineer of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), which is the main contractor of the 2008 Olympics Beijing National Aquatics Center known as “Water Cube”. His research interests include Vertical Greenery System (VGS), Mathematics Modeling for Civil Engineering, swarm intelligence, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Fuzzy-QFD, Tensile Membrane Steel Structure, Vertical Greenery Systems, Repertory Grid, sustainability in construction management, international BOT projects, energy conservation, and building integrated solar application, supported by his vast publications. He is an IEEE member (U.S.), RICS member (U.K.), and also a perpetual member of The Chinese Research Institute of Construction Management (CRIOCM), Hong Kong (International).

Hamzah Abdul-Rahman

Hamzah ABDUL-RAHMAN. He is Dip Bldg (UiTM), BSc (Hons) Central Missouri State University, MSc University of Florida, PhD University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, FRICS, MCIOB, MIVMM, is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the International University of Malaya-Wales(IUMW), which is one of the world’s first Malaysia-British university among research led universities. He has served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation), University of Malaya and a Full Professor in the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya. He has served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Development and Estate Management in charge of development policies and construction projects from 1996 to 2003, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International) from 2009–2010 in University of Malaya. He holds a PhD degree from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST, UK), MSc from University of Florida and BSc (Hons) from Central Missouri State University, Dip. Bldg (UiTM). His research interests include Swarm Intelligence (SI), the construction innovation & sustainability, project & facility management, building energy efficiency, industrialized building system (IBS), and renewable energy application in buildings, supported by his vast publications. He is also a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Surveyors, United Kingdom (International).

Wei See Ch’ng

Wei See CH’NG. She is a senior research fellow in the Construction Innovation and Project Management, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya. Her expertise is in Architecture and ACO algorithm.