Optimizing crane selection and location for multistage construction using a four-dimensional set cover approach

Crane selection and location planning exists as part of a series of critical decisions faced by construction managers. As today's construction projects grow increasingly complex and complicated construction schemes involving multistaged construction layouts become more common, the problem of crane selection and location planning becomes even more critical to achieving successful project completion. Despite this, current methods do not consider the impact of multiple stages. This paper first shows that neglecting the impact of multiple construction stages leads to suboptimal crane deployment costs. To overcome this, the problem of crane selection and location planning is recast as a four-dimensional set cover problem (4D-SCP). The proposed model is able to provide better solutions when multiple stages are considered, as well as providing a tool to analyze construction methods and work sequences from the perspective of total crane deployment costs. A case study of an academic building with an adjoining workshop is used to demonstrate these advantages.