LINEAR PROGRAMMING WITH FUZZY CPM: A CASE STUDY IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Abstract

The Critical Path Method (CPM) has been demonstrated to be a useful tool that is widely used in the construction industry for the planning and control of complex projects. However, because the duration of activities is represented as crisp numbers, it becomes difficult to precisely estimate the activity times in the critical path analysis. In addition, the majority of cases necessitate the subjective calculation of task duration times, resulting in ambiguity about the duration of the activities. This paper addresses these issues by proposing an approach based on fuzzy sets. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how to use fuzzy numbers to calculate the critical path and completion time of a construction project. Two distinct solution algorithms were constructed by giving triangular fuzzy durations to the project activities within the scope of the study. The critical path and project duration of a sample construction project were calculated in the first solution algorithm by assigning triangular fuzzy durations to project activities and using the linear programming model, whereas the fuzzy project time and critical path were calculated in the second solution algorithm by using the Alpha cutting method (α -Cutting Method) and then clarified using the Centroid method (COA- Center of Area). Because the critical path and completion time for this project are known ahead of time, the two solution algorithms were compared. It is hoped that using the FCPM method rather than the CPM method will highlight the significance of this study.