Using the MD CAD model to develop the time–cost integrated schedule for construction projects

Time and cost are two critical factors determining the success of a construction project. However, it is still a daunting task for project planners to develop a time–cost integrated schedule due to the tremendous amount of information that need to be processed. Various research efforts have been made to develop model-based systems to facilitate information processing and integrate time and cost throughout the project life cycle. However, the results of the previous studies are not comprehensive enough to fulfill the requirements of project management. This paper presents a scheduling system that applies Multi-Dimensional (MD) CAD model, Object Sequencing Matrix (OSM), and genetic algorithms (GAs) to generate the time–cost integrated schedule for the construction project. A computer implementation called MD CAD model-based Project Scheduling System (MD_PSS) is also developed to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach.