Design of a decision support system for multiobjective activity planning and programming using global bacteria optimization

The success of any project lies in a great manner on keeping costs in the estimated values, as well as meeting customer required due date. Therefore, there is a current need of developing an information system that facilitates the creation and managing of projects and their processes, including costing schemes, as well as monitoring an optimizing project’s makespan. In order to address this situation a user-friendly information system (IS) was developed. This IS includes an optimization module that reduces the project’s execution time, thus, minimizing costs and ultimately providing the manager with the right tools for the correct development of the project. Therefore, a better planning of activities in a reduced time is accomplished. In this way, the project manager is equipped with a decision support system (DSS) that allows a better decision making and, thanks to this performance optimization, a cost-effective solution can be delivered to the company. The optimization module is the main innovative component in this IS, considering that addresses the problem as a multiobjective one, considering at the same time makespan and cost. This module is based on global bacteria optimization (GBO). This becomes the most relevant improvement when compared to other ISs in the market

Fluctuations in measured radioactive decay rates inside a modified Faraday cage: Correlations with space weather

[EN] For several years, reports have been published about fluctuations in measured radioactive decay time-series and in some instances linked to astrophysical as well as classical environmental influences. Anomalous behaviors of radioactive decay measurement and measurement of capacitance inside and outside a modified Faraday cage were documented by our group in previous work. In the present report, we present an in-depth analysis of our measurement with regard to possible correlations with space weather, i.e. the geomagnetic activity (GMA) and cosmic-ray activity (CRA). Our analysis revealed that the decay and capacitance time-series are statistically significantly correlated with GMA and CRA when specific conditions are met. The conditions are explained in detail and an outlook is given on how to further investigate this important finding. Our discovery is relevant for all researchers investigating radioactive decay measurements since they point out that the space weather condition during the measurement is relevant for partially explaining the observed variability.This work has been partially financed by: grant no. 20170764 (Equipos de deteccion, regulacion e informacion en el sector de los sistemas inteligentes de transporte (ITS). Nuevos modelos y ensayos de compatibilidad y verificacion de funcionamiento) (Spain), by grant no. RTI2018-102256-B-I00 (Spain), by the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) under project Bioingenieria de las Radiaciones Ionizantes. Biorad (PROMETEO/2018/035) and the project MEMO RADION (IDIFEDER/2018/038) co-financed by the Programa Operativo del Fondo Social Europeo 2014-2020", and by grant No.075-00845-20-01 (Russia).Milián-Sánchez, V.; Scholkmann, F.; Fernández De Córdoba, P.; Mocholí Salcedo, A.; Mocholí-Belenguer, F.; Iglesias-Martínez, ME.; Castro-Palacio, JC.... (2020). 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Optimal procedures for the discrete time cost trade-off problem in project networks

We describe two algorithms, based on dynamic programming logic, for optimally solving the discrete time/cost trade-off problem (DTCTP) in deterministic activity-on-are networks of the CPM type, where the duration of each activity is a discrete, nonincreasing function of the amount of a single nonrenewable resource committed to it. The first algorithm is based on a procedure proposed by Bein, Kamburowski and Stallmann for finding the minimal number of reductions necessary to transform a general network to a series-parallel network. The second algorithm minimizes the estimated number of possibilities that need to be considered during the solution procedure. Both procedures have been programmed in C and tested on a large set of representative networks to give a good indication of their performance, and indicate the circumstances in which either algorithm performs best.status: publishe

Optimal procedures for the discrete time/cost trade-off problem in project networks

status: publishe

Note on the paper resource-constrained project management using enhanced theory of constraints

In a recent paper Wei, Liu and Tsai (2002) present 'an advanced TOC method for project scheduling under resource constraints'. In this note we demonstrate that Wei et al. (a) largely ignore the state of the art in resource-constrained project scheduling, (b) do not offer a correct application of the critical chain scheduling concepts, and (c) describe an alternative scheduling approach that is not based on sound arguments.status: publishe

The scheduling of activities to maximize the net present value of projects

nrpages: 39status: publishe

Note on the paper resource-constrained project management using enhanced theory of constraints.

In a recent paper Wei, Liu and Tsai (2002) present 'an advanced TOC method for project scheduling under resource constraints'. In this note we demonstrate that Wei et al. (a) largely ignore the state of the art in resource-constrained project scheduling, (b) do not offer a correct application of the critical chain scheduling concepts, and (c) describe an alternative scheduling approach that is not based on sound arguments.Project management; Management; Theory; Project scheduling; Scheduling;