Time-Cost-Quality Optimization using an Invasive Weed Algorithm with Activity Preemption in Construction Projects

In the last decade, various methods are created to optimize time, cost, and quality. Solving such a problem on large scale is too hard using traditional methods in logical time. Recently, researchers are focused on a meta-heuristic algorithm to solve time-cost-quality tradeoff problems. How to make a balance among time, cost, and quality parameters is so critical in construction project management. In this study, an invasive weed optimization algorithm is applied to solve the problem. In the proposed model, activity time is changed so that maximum usage of resources is obtained. In other words, it is possible to perform some activity simultaneously if their duration is increased which causes to decrease time, cost and increase project quality. Obtained results indicate the advantages of the proposed algorithm. Finally, to validate the proposed model a small size instance problem is created and solved by GAMS software optimally and compared with proposed algorithm results in MATLAB software. Results show that both Pareto solution obtained is almost identical, then it validates the algorithms for large scale problem.