Fuzzy Multi-Mode Time–Cost–Quality Trade-Off Optimization in Construction Management of Hydraulic Structure Projects

Abstract

Along with the increased use of water resources, some large water conservancy projects began construction to address power supply shortages and control flooding and drainage. As investment grows, construction cycles lengthen, external environmental impacts become bigger, and civil engineering project management becomes more complex. The real aim of the hydraulic-structure engineering project model is to manage ways of delivering the project on time while maintaining reasonable quality standards and building costs, to optimize project value. We note that the trade-off between conflicting objectives in a water conservancy project in an uncertain environment is a difficult task. To simulate the relationship between a project’s construction quality and its time limit, two new piecewise functions—a double exponential function and a quadratic function—were proposed, and then a fuzzy multi-mode discrete time–cost–quality trade-off concept for water-management projects was established. This model finds the best solution to an NP-hard problem using the particle-swarm optimization algorithm (PSO). A comparison of the calculations to previous studies validates the model and its computational approach. The optimized results of a water conservation project are provided as a conceptual framework for project planning and construction timeframes.