Scheduling reconstruction operations with modes of execution

Abstract

Since the decline of the Cold War, the risk of major conflict between powerful, industrialized nations has decreased. Insecurities in the 21st century are more apt to arise from the debris of imploding states. Such situations may require intervention—military or otherwise—by concerned states. To meet this new operational challenge, nations must adapt their planning procedures to account for Security, Stabilization, Transition, and Reconstruction Operations (SSTRO). This paper develops a project scheduling framework for post-conflict reconstruction that schedules reconstruction activities to maximize the positive impact to the local economy during the initial phase of SSTRO. Specifically, this paper builds on the Multimode Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem with Generalized Precedence Relations (MM-RCPSP-GPR) using goal programming to maximize the reconstruction operations’ positive impact to local population's economic welfare. This MM-RCPSP-GPR variant is applied to a notional example to illustrate its potential use in post-conflict SSTRO. The basic framework can be extended to other settings.

Keywords:

• military
• multi-objective
• project management
• optimization
• scheduling

^†Sadly, Dr Moore passed away while the paper was under review.

Disclaimer The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense or the United States Government.

^†Sadly, Dr Moore passed away while the paper was under review.

Disclaimer The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense or the United States Government.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the reviewers and the editor for their insightful comments. Their efforts have improved this piece.