Civil and Environmental Engineering - Master Calendar

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PhD Final Defense for Mamdouh Al-Ghzawi

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Virtual
wifi event
Date
Apr 7, 2023   3:00 pm  
Views
270
Originating Calendar
CEE Seminars and Conferences

Optimizing the Construction Planning of Airport Expansion Projects

Advisor: Professor Khaled El-Rayes

Abstract

Airport expansion projects are characterized by their complexity due to the proximity between construction activities and ongoing airport operations. This proximity often constraints the performance of construction, as airports are normally required to be fully functional during expansion work. Accordingly, this type of construction projects presents planners with significant challenges as they need to quantify and minimize the disruptive impact of construction activities on airport operations during the expansion work while minimizing total construction cost.

The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the planning of airport expansion projects that provide the capability of quantifying and minimizing the construction impact on air traffic and minimizing the total construction cost. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to develop: (1) a novel optimization model for the planning of airport expansion projects that is capable of minimizing both airport operations disruptions cost and total construction cost; (2) an innovative machine learning methodology that can be used to develop robust machine learning models for predicting the impact of various construction phasing plans on flights ground movement time in any airport without the need for repetitive and time-consuming simulation computations; and (3) a multi-objective model for optimizing the phasing plans of airport expansion projects that provides the capability of generating and analyzing optimal tradeoffs between minimizing construction-related disruption cost in airport operations and minimizing total construction cost.

The performance of the developed models was analyzed using real-life case studies of airport expansion projects. The results of this analysis illustrated the novel and unique capabilities of the developed models in enabling airport and construction planners to (i) generate optimal construction phasing plans and schedules for airport expansion projects; (ii) quantify and minimize the disruptive impact of construction activities on airport operations; and (iii) analyze and minimize the impact of air traffic on total construction cost of airport expansion projects. These original contributions and novel capabilities of the developed models are expected to have a significant impact on improving the cost-effectiveness and functional performance of airport expansion projects.

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