Multi-Objective Optimization of Time-Cost-Quality Using Multi-Colony Ant Algorithm

Construction planners often face the challenge of optimum resource utilization tocompromise between different and usually conflicting aspects of projects. Time, cost andquality of project delivery are among the crucial aspects of each project. Emergence of new contracts that place an increasing pressure on maximizing the quality of projects whileminimizing its time and cost, requires the development of models considering quality inaddition to time and cost which has modeled extensively. In this paper, a new metaheuristic multi-colony ant algorithm is developed for the optimization of three objectives time-costquality as a trade-off problem. An example is analyzed to illustrate the capabilities of the present method in generating optimal/near optimal solutions. The model is also applied to two objective time-cost trade-off problem, and the results are compared to those of the existing approaches.