Linear scheduling
methods are planning and scheduling techniques mostly used in manufacturing
industries where repetitive operations are abundant. The
line-of-balance (LOB) technique is a linear
scheduling method that allows the balancing of the operations such that each
activity is continuously and efficiently performed in each consecutive unit.
Some
construction projects that involve sets of tasks
organized in repeating sequences are similar to continuous manufacturing
processes in their structure.
Examples of such projects include pavement construction, multi-housing
projects, and high-rise building construction.
This
study aims to create a model that can utilize the tools of Information
Technology to the fullest extent. This will be accomplished by creating a
system that is flexible enough to accommodate Internet technologies.
ALISS (Advanced LInear Scheduling System) is designed to incorporate
information technologies into line of balance. It has a stand alone version
and a server version. The stand alone version utilizes the jet database
connectivity and the server version utilizes MS SQL 2000 Server. The program
has three different user interfaces, namely a visual basic program, an MS
Access database and a web interface; it also includes an administrative
interface to adjust the SQL server data structure. The administrative
interface is used to add new users and to modify the security levels of the
users. The MS Access portion of ALISS utilizes the form design tools, visual
basic programming and the web interface utilizes ASP (active server pages)
with visual basic script programming.
