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Models and algorithms to improve earthwork operations in road design using mixed integer linear programming

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  • Hare, Warren L.
  • Koch, Valentin R.
  • Lucet, Yves

Abstract

In road construction, earthwork operations account for about 25% of the construction costs. Existing linear programming models for earthwork optimization are designed to minimize the hauling costs and to balance the earth across the construction site. However, these models do not consider the removal of physical blocks that may influence the earthwork process. As such, current models may result in inaccurate estimates of optimal earthwork costs, leading to poor choices in road design. In this research, we extend the classical linear program model of earthwork operations to a mixed integer linear program model that accounts for blocks. We examine the economic impact of incorporating blocks via mixed integer linear programming, and find significant savings for most road designs in our test-set. However, the resulting model is considerably harder to solve than the original linear program. Based on structural observations, we introduce a set of algorithms that theoretically reduce the solving time of the model. We confirm this reduction in solve time with numerical experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Hare, Warren L. & Koch, Valentin R. & Lucet, Yves, 2011. "Models and algorithms to improve earthwork operations in road design using mixed integer linear programming," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 215(2), pages 470-480, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:215:y:2011:i:2:p:470-480
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kim, Eungcheol & Jha, Manoj K. & Son, Bongsoo, 2005. "Improving the computational efficiency of highway alignment optimization models through a stepwise genetic algorithms approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 339-360, May.
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    4. Francisco Agüera & Fernando Aguilar & Manuel Aguilar & Fernando Carvajal, 2007. "Minimising the Earthwork Cost in the Construction of Irrigation Offstream Reservoirs," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(2), pages 375-397, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dominique Monnet & Warren Hare & Yves Lucet, 2020. "Fast feasibility check of the multi-material vertical alignment problem in road design," Computational Optimization and Applications, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 515-536, March.
    2. Hüseyin Güden & Haldun Süral, 2017. "A polynomial algorithm for the earthwork allocation problem with borrow and waste site selection," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 68(9), pages 1085-1093, September.
    3. Pushak, Yasha & Hare, Warren & Lucet, Yves, 2016. "Multiple-path selection for new highway alignments using discrete algorithms," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(2), pages 415-427.
    4. Mauro Dell’Amico & Guenther Fuellerer & Gerhard Höfinger & Manuel Iori & Stefano Novellani, 2016. "A Decision Support System for Highway Construction: The Autostrada Pedemontana Lombarda," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 46(3), pages 245-263, April.
    5. Burdett, R.L. & Kozan, E., 2014. "An integrated approach for earthwork allocation, sequencing and routing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 238(3), pages 741-759.
    6. Dominique Monnet & Warren Hare & Yves Lucet, 2022. "A successive relaxation algorithm to solve a MILP involving piecewise linear functions with application to road design," Computational Optimization and Applications, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 741-767, April.
    7. Hare, Warren & Lucet, Yves & Rahman, Faisal, 2015. "A mixed-integer linear programming model to optimize the vertical alignment considering blocks and side-slopes in road construction," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 241(3), pages 631-641.
    8. Mohammad Mahanpoor & Saeed Monajjem & Vahid Balali, 2019. "Sustainable Highway Maintenance: Optimization of Existing Highway Vertical Alignment Considering Pavement Condition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.

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