Scheduling Rules Based on Gene Expression Programming for Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem

In order to minimize the project duration of resourceconstrained project scheduling problem( RCPSP), a gene expression programming-based scheduling rule( GEP-SR) method is proposed to automatically discover and select the effective scheduling rules( SRs) which are constructed using the project status and attributes of the activities. SRs are represented by the chromosomes of GEP, and an improved parallel schedule generation scheme( IPSGS) is used to transform the SRs into explicit schedules. The framework of GEP-SR for RCPSP is designed,and the effectiveness of the GEP-SR approach is demonstrated by comparing with other methods on the same instances.

A New Algorithm for Resource Constraint Project Scheduling Problem Based on Multi-Agent Systems

The resource constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) and a decision-making model based on multi-agent systems (MAS) and general equilibrium marketing are proposed. An algorithm leading to the resource allocation decision involved in RCPSP has also been developed. And this algorithm can be used in the multi-project scheduling field as well.Finally, an illustration is given.

KEY S&T PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE THREE GORGES PROJECT

This article gives a highly capsulized introduction to the research on key S&T problems involving geology, silting-up, hydropower facilities, navigation locks and shiplift, construction technology, and eco-environ-mental con-sequences in the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River.

Heuristic algorithm for RCPSP with the objective of minimizing activities' cost

Resource-constrained project scheduling problem（RCPSP） is an important problem in research on project management. But there has been little attention paid to the objective of minimizing activities＇ cost with the resource constraints that is a critical sub-problem in partner selection of construction supply chain management because the capacities of the renewable resources supplied by the partners will effect on the project scheduling. Its mathematic model is presented firstly, and analysis on the characteristic of the problem shows that the objective function is non-regular and the problem is NP-complete following which the basic idea for solution is clarified. Based on a definition of preposing activity cost matrix, a heuristic algorithm is brought forward. Analyses on the complexity of the heuristics and the result of numerical studies show that the heuristic algorithm is feasible and relatively effective.

Inverse full state hybrid projective synchronization for chaotic maps with different dimensions

A new synchronization scheme for chaotic（hyperchaotic） maps with different dimensions is presented.Specifically,given a drive system map with dimension n and a response system with dimension m,the proposed approach enables each drive system state to be synchronized with a linear response combination of the response system states.The method,based on the Lyapunov stability theory and the pole placement technique,presents some useful features：（i） it enables synchronization to be achieved for both cases of n 〈 m and n 〉 m;（ii） it is rigorous,being based on theorems;（iii） it can be readily applied to any chaotic（hyperchaotic） maps defined to date.Finally,the capability of the approach is illustrated by synchronization examples between the two-dimensional H′enon map（as the drive system） and the three-dimensional hyperchaotic Wang map（as the response system）,and the three-dimensional H′enon-like map（as the drive system） and the two-dimensional Lorenz discrete-time system（as the response system）.

A MODIFIED PROJECTION AND CONTRACTION METHOD FOR A CLASS OF LINEAR COMPLEMENTARITY PROBLEMS

Recently, we have proposed an iterative projection and contraction (PC) method for a class of linear complementarity problems (LCP)([4]). The method was showed to be globally convergent, but no statement could be made about the rate of convergence. In this paper, we develop a modified globally linearly convergent PC method for linear complementarity problems. Both the method and the convergence proofs are very simple. The method can also be used to solve some linear variational inequalities. Several computational experiments are presented to indicate that the method is surprising good for solving some known difficult problems.

Multi-Mode Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Models for Progress and Equal Time Interval Payments

This study utilizes a time-precedence network technique to construct two models of multi-mode resource constrained project scheduling problem with discounted cash flows （MRCPSPDCF）, individually including the progress payment （PP） and the payment at an equal time interval （ETI）. The objective of each model is to maximize the net present value （NPV） for all cash flows in the project, subject to the related operational constraints. The models are characterized as NP-hard. A heuristic algorithm, coupled with two upper bound solutions, is proposed to efficiently solve the models and evaluate the heuristic algorithm performance which was not performed in past studies. The results show that the performance of proposed models and heuristic algorithm is good.

Fuzzy Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem for Software Development

This paper presents a new method to solve the resource-constrained project scheduling problem for software development. In this method,activity duration times are described as fuzzy variables and resource-constrained software project scheduling problems are described as fuzzy programming models. First,how to model the software project scheduling problem under the fuzzy environment conditions is proposed. Second,in order to satisfy the different requirements of decision-making,two novel fuzzy project scheduling models,expected cost model and credibility maximization model,are suggested. Third,a hybrid intelligent algorithm integrated by genetic algorithm and fuzzy simulation is designed to solve the above two fuzzy programming models. Numerical experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the hybrid intelligent algorithm.

Solving Resource-constrained Multiple Project Scheduling Problem Using Timed Colored Petri Nets

To solve the resource-constrained multiple project scheduling problem(RCMPSP) more effectively,a method based on timed colored Petri net(TCPN) was proposed.In this methodology,firstly a novel mapping mechanism between traditional network diagram such as CPM(critical path method)/PERT(program evaluation and review technique) and TCPN was presented.Then a primary TCPN(PTCPN) for solving RCMPSP was modeled based on the proposed mapping mechanism.Meanwhile,the object PTCPN was used to simulate the multiple projects scheduling and to find the approximately optimal value of RCMPSP.Finally,the performance of the proposed approach for solving RCMPSP was validated by executing a mould manufacturing example.

SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF SUBJECT SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE FACED IN THE ATTSR PROJECT

ESP teachers teaching English for mixed subject -specialist groups meet problems such as selecting teach-ing materials,dealing with the subject matter,and teaching methods.The experience in the ATTSR(Advanced Teacher Training in Specialist Reading)project may be a reference point for colleagues whomeet with the same problems.In this paper the author will suggest methods to solve these problems intraining this group:using different subject

Cycling Attacks against Homomorphic Cryptosystems

We study security of some homomorphic cryptosysterns with similar algebraic structure. It is found out that those cryptosystems have special common properties. Based on these properties, we pose two cycling attacks and point out some parameters under which the attacks are efficient. It is verified that randomly selected parameters almost impossibly submit to such attacks. Anyhow, two effective methods are given to construct weak parameters for certain homomorphic cryptosystems, and two moduli over 1 024 bits computed by them are shown to be vulnerable to our cycling attacks. It is concluded that strong primes should be used to avert weak parameters.

AN EXTENDED MODEL FOR PROJECT PORTFOLIO SELECTION WITH PROJECT DIVISIBILITY AND INTERDEPENDENCY

In this paper, we develop an extended model for the project portfolio selection problem over a planning horizon with multiple time periods. The model incorporates the factors of project divisibility and interdependency at the same time for real-life applications. The project divisibility is considered as a strategy, not an unfortunate event as in the literature, in choosing the best execution schedule for the projects, and the classical concept of＂project interdependencies＂ among fully executed projects is then extended to the portions of executed projects. Additional constraints of reinvestment consideration, setup cost, cardinality restriction, precedence relationship and scheduling are also included in the model. For efficient computations, an equivalent mixed integer linear programming representation of the proposed model is derived. Numerical examples under four scenarios are presented to highlight the characteristics of the proposed model. In particular, the positive effects of project divisibility are shown for the first time.

Project Scheduling Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithm with Fuzzy Logic Controller in SCM Environment

In supply chain management (SCM) environment, we consider a resource-constrained project scheduling problem (rcPSP) model as one of advanced scheduling problems considered by a constraint programming technique. We develop a hybrid genetic algorithm (hGA) with a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) to solve the rcPSP which is the well known NP-hard problem. This new approach is based on the design of genetic operators with FLC through initializing the serial method which is superior for a large rcPSP scale. For solving these rcPSP problems, we first demonstrate that our hGA with FLC (flc-hGA) yields better results than several heuristic procedures presented in the literature. We have revealed a fact that flc-hGA has the evolutionary behaviors of average fitness better than hGA without FLC.

Hybrid genetic algorithm for bi-objective resourceconstrained project scheduling

In this study,we considered a bi-objective,multi-project,multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem.We adopted three objective pairs as combinations of the net present value(NPV)as a financial performance measure with one of the time-based performance measures,namely,makespan(Cmax),mean completion time(MCT),and mean flow time(MFT)(i.e.,minCmax/maxA^PF,minA/Cr/max7VPF,and min MFTI mdixNPV).We developed a hybrid non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm Ⅱ(hybrid-NSGA-Ⅱ)as a solution method by introducing a backward-forward pass(BFP)procedure and an injection procedure into NSGA-Ⅱ.The BFP was proposed for new population generation and post-processing.Then,an injection procedure was introduced to increase diversity.The BFP and injection procedures led to improved objective functional values.The injection procedure generated a significantly high number of non-dominated solutions,thereby resulting in great diversity.An extensive computational study was performed.Results showed that hybrid-NSGA-Ⅱ surpassed NSGA-Ⅱ in terms of the performance metrics hypervolume,maximum spread,and the number of nondominated solutions.Solutions were obtained for the objective pairs using hybrid-NSGA-Ⅱ and three different test problem sets with specific properties.Further analysis was performed by employing cash balance,which was another financial performance measure of practical importance.Several managerial insights and extensions for further research were presented.

Economic optimization of resource-constrained project scheduling:a two-phase metaheuristic approach

This paper deals with the problem of project scheduling subject to multiple execution modes with non-renewable resources, and a model that handles some of monetary issues in real world applications.The objective is to schedule the activities to maximize the expected net present value(NPV) of the project, taking into account the activity costs, the activity durations, and the cash flows generated by successfully completing an activity.Owing to the combinatorial nature of this problem, the current study develops a hybrid of branch-and-bound procedure and memetic algorithm to enhance both mode assignment and activity scheduling.Modifications for the makespan minimization problem have been made through a set of benchmark problem instances.Algorithmic performance is rated on the maximization of the project NPV and computational results show that the two-phase hybrid metaheuristic performs competitively for all instances of different problem sizes.