Master Scheduling

This title presents a large variety of models and algorithms dedicated to the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP), which aims at scheduling at minimal duration a set of activities subject to precedence constraints and limited resource availabilities. In the first part, the standard variant of RCPSP is presented and analyzed as a combinatorial optimization problem. Constraint programming and integer linear programming formulations are given. Relaxations based on these formulations and also on related scheduling problems are presented. Exact methods and heuristics are surveyed. Computational experiments, aiming at providing an empirical insight on the difficulty of the problem, are provided. The second part of the book focuses on several other variants of the RCPSP and on their solution methods. Each variant takes account of real-life characteristics which are not considered in the standard version, such as possible interruptions of activities, production and consumption of resources, cost-based approaches and uncertainty considerations. The last part presents industrial case studies where the RCPSP plays a central part. Applications are presented in various domains such as assembly shop and rolling ingots production scheduling, project management in information technology companies and instruction scheduling for VLIW processor architectures.

Real-time systems are used in a wide range of applications, including control, sensing, multimedia, etc. Scheduling is a central problem for these computing/communication systems since responsible of software execution in a timely manner. This book provides state of knowledge in this domain with special emphasis on the key results obtained within the last decade. This book addresses foundations as well as the latest advances and findings in Real-Time Scheduling, giving all references to important papers. But nevertheless the chapters will be short and not overloaded with confusing details. Coverage includes scheduling approaches for mono-core as well as multi-core platforms, dependent tasks, networks, and notably very tremendous recent advances in scheduling of energy constrained embedded systems. Other sophisticated issues such as feedback control scheduling and timing analysis of critical applications are also addressed. This volume can serve as a textbook for courses on the topic in bachelor and in more advanced master programs. It also provides a reference for computer scientists and engineers involved in the design or the development of Cyber-Physical Systems which require up-to-date real-time scheduling solutions.

An up-to-date and comprehensive treatment of the fundamentals of scheduling theory, including recent advances and state-of-the-art topics Principles of Sequencing and Scheduling strikes a unique balance between theory and practice, providing an accessible introduction to the concepts, methods, and results of scheduling theory and its core topics. With real-world examples and up-to-date modeling techniques, the book equips readers with the basic knowledge needed for understanding scheduling theory and delving into its applications. The authors begin with an introduction and overview of sequencing and scheduling, including single-machine sequencing, optimization and heuristic solution methods, and models with earliness and tardiness penalties. The most current material on stochastic scheduling, including correct scheduling of safety time and the use of simulation for optimization, is then presented and integrated with deterministic models. Additional topical coverage includes: Extensions of the basic model Parallel-machine models Flow shop scheduling Scheduling groups of jobs The job shop problem Simulation models for the dynamic job shop Network methods for project scheduling Resource-constrained project scheduling Stochastic and safe scheduling Extensive end-of-chapter exercises are provided, some of which are spreadsheet-oriented, and link scheduling theory to the most popular analytic platform among today's students and practitioners—the Microsoft Office Excel® spreadsheet. Extensive references direct readers to additional literature, and the book's related Web site houses material that reinforces the book's concepts, including research notes, data sets, and examples from the text. Principles of Sequencing and Scheduling is an excellent book for courses on sequencing and scheduling at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners in the fields of statistics, computer science, operations research, and engineering.

Real-time systems are used in a wide range of applications, including control, sensing, multimedia, etc. Scheduling is a central problem for these computing/communication systems since it is responsible for software execution in a timely manner. This book, the second of two volumes on the subject, brings together knowledge on specific topics and discusses the recent advances for some of them. It addresses foundations as well as the latest advances and findings in real-time scheduling, giving comprehensive references to important papers, but the chapters are short and not overloaded with confusing details. Coverage includes scheduling approaches for networks and for energy autonomous systems. Other sophisticated issues, such as feedback control scheduling and probabilistic scheduling, are also addressed. This book can serve as a textbook for courses on the topic in bachelor’s degrees and in more advanced master’s degree programs. It also provides a reference for computer scientists and engineers involved in the design or the development of Cyber-Physical Systems which require up-to-date real-time scheduling solutions.

A new model for task scheduling that dramatically improves the efficiency of parallel systems Task scheduling for parallel systems can become a quagmire of heuristics, models, and methods that have been developed over the past decades. The author of this innovative text cuts through the confusion and complexity by presenting a consistent and comprehensive theoretical framework along with realistic parallel system models. These new models, based on an investigation of the concepts and principles underlying task scheduling, take into account heterogeneity, contention for communication resources, and the involvement of the processor in communications. For readers who may be new to task scheduling, the first chapters are essential. They serve as an excellent introduction to programming parallel systems, and they place task scheduling within the context of the program parallelization process. The author then reviews the basics of graph theory, discussing the major graph models used to represent parallel programs. Next, the author introduces his task scheduling framework. He carefully explains the theoretical background of this framework and provides several examples to enable readers to fully understand how it greatly simplifies and, at the same time, enhances the ability to schedule. The second half of the text examines both basic and advanced scheduling techniques, offering readers a thorough understanding of the principles underlying scheduling algorithms. The final two chapters address communication contention in scheduling and processor involvement in communications. Each chapter features exercises that help readers put their new skills into practice. An extensive bibliography leads to additional information for further research. Finally, the use of figures and examples helps readers better visualize and understand complex concepts and processes. Researchers and students in distributed and parallel computer systems will find that this text dramatically improves their ability to schedule tasks accurately and efficiently.

The authoritative industry guide on good practice for planning and scheduling in construction This handbook acts as a guide to good practice, a text to accompany learning and a reference document for those needing information on background, best practice, and methods for practical application. A Handbook for Construction Planning & Scheduling presents the key issues of planning and programming in scheduling in a clear, concise and practical way. The book divides into four main sections: Planning and Scheduling within the Construction Context; Planning and Scheduling Techniques and Practices; Planning and Scheduling Methods; Delay and Forensic Analysis. The authors include both basic concepts and updates on current topics demanding close attention from the construction industry, including planning for sustainability, waste, health and safety and Building Information Modelling (BIM). The book is especially useful for early career practitioners – engineers, quantity surveyors, construction managers, project managers – who may already have a basic grounding in civil engineering, building and general construction but lack extensive planning and scheduling experience. Students will find the website helpful with worked examples of the methods and calculations for typical construction projects plus other directed learning material. This authoritative industry guide on good practice for planning and scheduling in construction is written in a direct, informative style with a clear presentation enabling easy access of the relevant information with a companion website providing additional resources and learning support material. the authoritative industry guide on construction planning and scheduling direct informative writing style and clear presentation enables easy access of the relevant information companion website provides additional learning material.

System virtualization has become increasingly common in distributed systems because of its functionality and convenience for the owners and users of these infrastructures. In Scheduling of Large-scale Virtualized Infrastructures, author Flavien Quesnel examines the management of large-scale virtual infrastructures with an emphasis on scheduling up to 80,000 virtual machines on 8,000 nodes. The text fills a need for updated software managing to meet the increasing size of virtual infrastructures. Virtual machine managers and virtual operators will appreciate this guide to improvement in cooperative software management.

First published in 1988 by RS Means, the new edition of Project Scheduling and Management for Construction has been substantially revised for students enrolled in construction management and civil engineering programs. While retaining its emphasis on developing practical, professional-level scheduling skills, the new edition is a relatable, real-world case study that can be used over the course of a semester. The book also includes classroom elements like exercises, quizzes, skill-building exercises, as well as an instructor's manual including two additional new cases.