Abstract
In this paper, we develop a method called the resource-dependent critical path method (RDCPM) to identify resource dependencies that exist between activities in order to determine the critical paths and real floats in resource-constrained scheduling (RCS) techniques. The popular critical path method (CPM) and program evaluation and review technique (PERT) network techniques are based on the assumption of unlimited resources. This assumption is not valid in most practical applications, wherein exist definite limits on the amount of available resources. Although RCS techniques can consider resource limitations, they do not provide the correct floats and critical path, as do the CPM and PERT techniques. This is because in addition to technological relationships, a resource constraint schedule contains resource dependencies between activities that are neglected in RCS techniques.
RDCPM provides reasonable resource links between activities so that both total floats and free floats can be computed accurately, and critical activities and critical sequences can be correctly identified. Moreover, to minimize the number of resource links and reduce the complexity of the network, RDCPM establishes resource links between activities while considering their optimization and removes redundant relations. This approach makes a schedule more realistic and provides a stable schedule with progress updates. Therefore, it should be considerably more beneficial and useful for the construction industry.
