An expert system for highway construction: Multi-objective optimization using enhanced particle swarm for optimal equipment management

Expert systems play a crucial role in decision-making across various industries. This study introduces a novel expert system employing a tailored multi-objective optimization (MOO) model to address the intricate demands of highway projects. Integrating an advanced Enhanced Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) strategy, our model emphasizes key operations like excavation, hauling, grading, and compaction. Considering factors such as equipment count, velocity, and capacity, the system provides a comprehensive set of optimal solutions and reveals the Pareto frontier. In benchmarking our Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) model against established methods, such as Genetic Algorithms (GA) by various researchers and the Guided Population Archive Whale Optimization Algorithm (GPAWOA), our approach significantly excelled. Our model demonstrated a 35.4%-time reduction and a 39.1% cost reduction while enhancing operational quality—starkly contrasting the modest improvements seen with other methods. This showcases the IPSO model's robustness in optimizing construction equipment utilization beyond current standards. Functioning as a decision-support tool, the expert system aids stakeholders in selecting optimal equipment setups, considering diverse attributes from equipment specifications to speed and volume. This application is exemplified through a real-world highway construction case study. The Case Study showcases the proposed model's remarkable impact, yielding a 35.4% time saving and a 16.8% cost decrease with Optimal Solution (I). In contrast, Optimal Solution (III) required 144.6% more time yet reduced costs by 39.1%. Furthermore, Optimal Solution (II) achieved a 4.6%-time reduction and a 32.4% cost decrease, demonstrating the system's versatility in managing constraints and optimizing decision-making processes across various project stages.