Minimizing earthwork volumes by optimizing vertical alignment with linear programming algorithm

Abstract

Earthwork cost is one of the major cost items (approximately 25% of the construction costs) in road construction projects. The amount of earthwork volumes therefore earthwork cost, mostly depends on the geometry of the road vertical alignment. We can conclude that an optimized vertical alignment has a profound impact on earthwork costs. In this research paper, we solve the task connected to the minimization of earthwork cost by optimizing vertical alignment by the development of linear optimization model with different categories of unknown variables including vertical offsets between road and surface in different points as well as extremum points’ numbers. Proposed linear optimization model is supposed to be implemented with application of simplex method as the component of complex branch and bound approach. The developed model has been implemented on the basis of practical example. After the optimization of vertical alignment, earthwork volumes have been calculated in the road design software with average end area volume calculation method. We also have provided numerical results which include earthwork volumes and cost improvements over preliminary design.