New solutions for problems in optimal scheduling of activities in a project under temporal constraints are developed in the framework of tropical algebra which deals with the theory and application of algebraic systems with idempotent operations. We start with a constrained tropical optimization problem that has an objective function represented as a vector form given by an arbitrary matrix, and that can be solved analytically in a closed but somewhat complicated form. We examine a special case of the problem when the objective function is given by a matrix of unit rank, and show that the solution can be sufficiently refined in this case, which results in an essentially simplified analytical form and reduced computational complexity of the solution. We exploit the obtained result to find complete solutions of project scheduling problems to minimize the project makespan and the maximum absolute deviation of start times of activities under temporal constraints. The constraints under consideration include “start–start”, “start–finish” and “finish–start” precedence relations, release times, release deadlines and completion deadlines for activities. As an application, we consider optimal scheduling problems of a vaccination project in a medical centre.
Original languageEnglish
Article number69
JournalOperational Research
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2024

    Research areas

  • idempotent semiefield, tropical optimization, minimax optimization problem, temporal project scheduling, project management, Project management, Temporal project scheduling, 90C24, Idempotent semiefield, 90C47, 90B35, 15A80, Tropical optimization, Minimax optimization problem

    Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Optimization
  • Algebra and Number Theory
  • Management Science and Operations Research

ID: 128096621