Abstract
In this research, schedule optimization is defined as balancing the number of workers while keeping the demand and needs of the project resources, creating the perfect schedule for each activity. Therefore, when one optimizes a schedule, multiple potentials of schedule changes are assessed to get an instant view of changes that avoid any over and under staffing while maximizing productivity levels for the available labor cost. Optimizing the number of workers in the scheduling process is not a simple task since it usually involves many different factors to be considered such as the development of quantity take-offs, cost estimating, scheduling, direct/indirect costs, and borrowing costs in cash flow while each factor affecting the others simultaneously. That is why the optimization process usually requires complex computational simulations/modeling. This research attempts to find an optimal selection of daily maximum workers in a project while considering the impacts of other factors at the same time through OPEN BIM based multiple computer simulations in resource leveling. This paper integrates several different processes such as quantity take-offs, cost estimating, and scheduling processes through computer aided simulations and prediction in generating/comparing different outcomes of each process. To achieve interoperability among different simulation processes, this research utilized data exchanges supported by building SMART-IFC effort in automating the data extraction and retrieval. Numerous computer simulations were run, which included necessary aspects of construction scheduling, to produce sufficient alternatives for a given project.