Optimal Numbers, Locations, and Configurations of Tower Cranes on Construction Sites

Choosing the right number, configurations, and locations of tower cranes can significantly impact building schedules and reduce construction cost. These decisions also depend on the choice of material supply points where the material is stored before being lifted to the given demand points. To ensure that the capacity of the cranes is not exceeded, load charts that specify the maximum weight that can be lifted at a certain boom radius need to be considered. We present a MILP model implemented in GAMS that solves this decision problem minimizing the crane operating, installation and rental costs. In addition to the optimization model, a heuristic in closed form is presented. For a realistic case of a construction site of mid-rise buildings, we compare solution quality, performance, and scalability of both approaches.