Komal Kiran et al. Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications www.ijera.com ISSN: 2248-9622, Vol. 5, Issue 9, (Part - 2) September 2015, pp.79-89 www.ijera.com 79 | Page Optimization of Time Restriction in Construction Project Management Using Lingo and M.S.Excel Komal Kiran*, Maneeth.P.D**, Brijbhushan S** *( Post Graduate Student, Department of Construction Technology, Postgraduate Studies, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Regional Center, Kalaburagi – 585 105 Karnataka) ** (Assistant Professor, Department of Construction Technology, Postgraduate Studies, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Regional Center, Kalaburagi – 585 105 Karnataka) ABSTRACT This study is an attempt to identify the minimum time of a construction project using the critical path method and linear programming model. A systematic analysis is attempted by developing a work breakdown structure for entire project to establish work elements for quantifying various resources against time and cost. A network is established taking into consideration all the predecessor and successor activities. The network is then optimized through crashing of activities so as to obtain optimal solution and serves as a base for optimizing total project cost. Finally, linear programming model is used to formulate the system of crashing network for minimum time by LINGO model and Microsoft Excel. These models consider many considerations of project thus reducing the duration of project. Ultimately, comparison of both the software outputs and the manual calculations is done and the best verifier is determined. Keywords - Linear Programming, Crashing, CPM, LINGO, Microsoft Excel etc. I. INTRODUCTION Construction industry is one of the largest industries and encompasses projects of all scales like highway, bridge, sky-scrappers, dams, canals, flyovers etc. These projects are complex and consist of large number of activities. Each activity requires certain amount of resources such as time, labor, material, machineries and money. Basically it is a combination of multiple activities, which are inter- related with one another and must be executed in some particular order and specified time limit to complete the entire task. Construction planning is a fundamental and challenging activity in the management and execution of construction project involving the choice of technology, the definition of work tasks, the estimation of the required resources and durations for individual tasks, and ultimately the identification of any inter-relations among the different work tasks. Linear Programming deals with the optimization of a function of variables known as the „objective function‟, subject to a set of linear equations with inequalities known as „constraints‟. II. OBJECTIVES OF PRESENT STUDY 1 A construction project is to be selected to demonstrate the applicability. 2 Linear Programming optimization objective function, constraints and variables are to be determined so as to minimize the construction project duration. 3 This manual linear programming approach is then verified by suitable software. III. BASIC PROBLEMS IN PROJECT FACED BY THE MANAGEMENT With the scarce resources and limited time it is the prime duty of the management to look after the following areas for the better management 1. Completion time of the project. 2. Activities that is critical for the successful completion of the project. 3. Whether enough resources are available? 4. Whether a project is running on schedule? 5. Whether the money spent is within the budgeted cost at any particular time? 6. If the project is to be finished in shorter time what activities should be crashed? 7. What is the best way to accomplish the least cost? IV. NETWORK TECHNIQUES IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Bar chart/ Gantt chart: A bar chart has two coordinates, one representing the time (x-axis) and the other representing the work or activity to be performed. Each activity is depicted in the form of a horizontal line or a bar. The length of these bars indicates the duration of the activity. In a project some activities should be taken concurrently and some are required to be completed before or after the other works. That‟s the reason in thi s bar chart some RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS