Abstract: The design and process scheduling optimization method is a technique that circumvents problems encountered in previous optimization techniques. The method performs comparison against multiple possible outcomes rather than a single-valued benchmark. Pattern Recognition (PR) techniques are utilized to classify the work planned at specified cut-off dates during the planning stage. Classification is used to monitor and evaluate the progress during the construction stage. The PR technique generalizes a virtual benchmark to represent the whole project based on multiple possible outcomes generated at a given cut-off date. The generalization feature offers a potential tool to overcome the problem of variation in the quality of data collected. Patterns are constructed to encode work of the project at different cut-off dates. The present invention utilizes a robust pattern recognition method applied to Critical Path Method (CPM) procedures to monitor and evaluate progress of construction projects.

Abstract: The design and process scheduling optimization method is a technique that circumvents problems encountered in previous optimization techniques. The method performs comparison against multiple possible outcomes rather than a single-valued benchmark. Pattern Recognition (PR) techniques are utilized to classify the work planned at specified cut-off dates during the planning stage. Classification is used to monitor and evaluate the progress during the construction stage. The PR technique generalizes a virtual benchmark to represent the whole project based on multiple possible outcomes generated at a given cut-off date. The generalization feature offers a potential tool to overcome the problem of variation in the quality of data collected. Patterns are constructed to encode work of the project at different cut-off dates. The present invention utilizes a robust pattern recognition method applied to Critical Path Method (CPM) procedures to monitor and evaluate progress of construction projects.

Abstract: A maintenance management system is disclosed for staffing highway maintenance crews using discrete-event simulation and optimization techniques. Conveniently, the system is organized in four stages; making determinations, model building, simulation model, and experimentation and analysis. Determinations support setting agency's own standards regarding maintenance including identifying maintenance specialities, establishing standard crews, setting standard productivity rates, estimating optimum maintenance workloads, estimating costs of delaying maintenance, and deciding the planning period. Model building involves outlining the repair request system including highway system configuration, organization structure, crew assignments, input data, and maintenance model. The simulation model executes an initialization routine and events and runs the events through a time and event schema until the event queue in the simulator is emptied.