Extensions of the resource-constrained project scheduling problem

The resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) aims to schedule a set of activities subject to resource and precedence constraints to minimize the project makespan. The construction schedule optimization is modeled and solved as the RCPSP, and research on the RCPSP has had a positive impact on construction projects. However, given the narrow assumptions of the standard RCPSP model, it fails to capture many practical engineering requirements. Consequently, various extended problems and more competitive solutions have been developed. However, few studies have discussed the extensions of the RCPSP and corresponding optimization algorithms. This paper reviews the literature on project scheduling over the last decade. First, the standard RCPSP is described, and extended models are summarized based on objectives, constraints, and activities. Then, the research progress of the algorithm and other variants of the RCPSP are investigated. Finally, based on statistics obtained previously, current limitations, challenges, and future research directions are discussed.