An Upgraded Sine Cosine Algorithm for Tower Crane Selection and Layout Problem

Abstract

Tower crane is the core construction facility in the high-rise building construction sites. Proper selection and location of construction tower cranes not only can affect the expenses but also it can have impact on the material handling process of building construction. Tower crane selection and layout problem (TCSLP) is a type of construction site layout problem, which is considered as an NP-hard problem. In consequence, researchers have extensively used metaheuristics for their solution. The Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) is a newly developed metaheuristic which performs well for TCSLP, however, efficient use of this algorithm requires additional considerations. For this purpose, the present paper studies an upgraded sine cosine algorithm (USCA) that employs a harmony search based operator to improve the exploration and deal with variable constraints simultaneously and uses an archive to save the best solutions. Subsequently, the upgraded sine cosine algorithm is employed to optimize the locations to find the best tower crane layout. Several benchmark functions are studied to evaluate the performance of the USCA. A comparative study indicates that the USCA performs quite well in comparison to other recently developed metaheuristic algorithms.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Tasks Scheduling Problem for Overlapping Multiple Tower Cranes

“…The introduction of coefficient λ represents the simultaneity of the operator's operation of the hook in both radial and tangential directions. Therefore, the total travel time of the hook in the horizontal direction is shown in Formula (8). The value range of parameter λ is from zero to one, and the larger the parameter value, the higher the degree of simultaneous movement.…”

“…Generally speaking, there are three main aspects that significantly affect the operational efficiency and safety of multiple tower cranes: (i) the selection and layout of multiple tower cranes on construction sites [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]; (ii) the improvement of path and motion scheduling [4,[16][17][18][19][20]; and (iii) the lifting schedule for each tower crane [5]. In the early stage of construction, it is necessary to choose a reasonable type of tower crane and carry out a reasonable layout of multiple tower cranes.…”

“…In order to obtain the optimal tower crane selection and layout plan, the problem is usually expressed as a mixed integer linear problem (MILP) [6,13,21]. Some of the optimization methods used to study this problem include mixed integer linear programming [22], the upgraded sine cosine algorithm (USCA) [8], the firefly algorithm [11], simulated annealing [23], the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) [24], the automatic tower crane layout planning (TCLP) system [10], building information modeling (BIM), and the geographic information system (GIS); these methods assist in scheduling the layout of multiple tower cranes on construction sites. Layout planning reduces the probability of conflicts between tower cranes by reducing the size of overlapping areas, but does not eliminate the possibility of collisions when overlapping areas exist [25].…”

Physics-inspired Metaheuristics for Construction Site Layout Planning Problem

“…Material handling, which involves some short-distance movements, plays an crucial role in the construction and manufacturing activities [5]. The expenses and the time of the construction in the material handling system will be extremely affected if the location of facilities be located suitably in the site.…”

“…Having ample construction space is a necessity for any construction project, for it needed for a range of short-term facilities; well-functioning, and safe, construction movements. One of the main steps in planning the site is construction site-level facilities layout [5]. Organizing a set of work space in the construction site that can provide a level of safety and efficiency is not a simple task, but rather a multifaceted job to do, because it inevitably involves a lot of scenarios that should be taken into consideration.…”