[rules-users] physical resource allocation problem

[Geoffrey De Smet]

On 18-03-14 09:24, Scott Danner wrote:
> Hello,
>
> We have a resource allocation problem. Could this be solved with 
> OptaPlanner?
>
> Here it is:
> There are N projects located in various places that need work done 
> with machines (just one machine type for all machine work).
> Work can be parallelized, e.g. 6 work days can be done in 6 calendar 
> days by one machine or in 3 calendar days by two, or in 4 calendar 
> days by 2 machines (one works 4, other 2).
Take a look at these examples:

Cloud Balancing
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhCtuM-Hiic
use as less machines as possible

Project Job Scheduling
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2zweB9JD7c
in case the work has dependencies on other work items

Vehicle routing with Time Windows
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxO3UFmtAPg
When a work gets assigned to a machine, use shadow variables to capture 
when the work will be done.
See docs about "variable listeners"

>
> How to best allocate machines to projects?
> Looking at planned project work, how many machines are needed for each 
> calendar day? How many machines should we buy, and how many to rent, 
> and when?
>
>
> Details
>
> For each project, the work can & must be done only in some selected 
> calendar periods.
> Machine locations are always known.
>
> Machine costs:
> * moving from location A to location B (per km). Moving also takes 
> time, and a machine can be moved a maximum amount of km per day.
> * operating (per day)
> * staying in a project location (per day)
> * staying in a hangar (per day)
> * being rented for one day from location L (total cost = transport 
> from rent location to project location and back, and daily rent)
> * being purchased
>
These are all just constraints, I don't see any special stuff there.
To make them easy to write, the domain classes will need a (shadow) 
variable that says when a work starts.
>
>
> A machine also needs an operator, but for now that can be considered a 
> single unit.
>
> Ideally, also take into accounting weather for each project location. 
> Weather might be known with 2 weeks in advance. Just re-plan by 
> blocking the rainy days for some projects?
Yes, see docs on repeated planning.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
>
>
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