Application of fuzzy linear programming in construction projects

摘要

In classical optimization model, the objective function and the constraints are represented very precisely under certainty. However, many of the constraints are externally controlled and the variations cannot be predicted to a reliable extent. This may cause difficulties in representing these interacting variables for optimization. To overcome these limitations, Zimmerman's fuzzy logic approach is applied for optimization in this paper. Here, the embedding simulation results are used as inputs to a fuzzy linear programming model to soften the notion of ''constraints" and "objective function." This approach will acknowledge and postulate that the objective function and the constraints are of the same nature and the distinction between them is gradual rather than abrupt. An application of this integrated approach to a case study demonstrates the efficacy of this flexible algorithm in dealing with qualitative factors in a more meaningful way than classical linear programming. One of the main advantages of this method is that it can be easily implemented in the existing computer programs for optimization.