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Book Chapter

Scheduling Optimization of Electric Ready Mixed Concrete Vehicles Using an Improved Model-Based Reinforcement Learning

  • Zhengyi Chen
  • Changhao Song
  • Xiao Zhang
  • Jack C. P. Cheng

Decarbonizing the construction sector has become an imperative global agenda, with electric machinery playing a pivotal role in realizing this objective. This research concentrates on devising an operational scheduling optimization method for electric ready-mixed concrete vehicles (ERVs) – a groundbreaking, eco-friendly intervention for the construction sector. We commence by outlining a systematic problem definition for the ERV operational process, considering the distinctive characteristics of electric vehicles and ready-mixed concrete (RMC) delivery tasks. The entire process is then conceptualized as a Markov decision problem (MDP), which enables sequential decision-making. We subsequently develop an enhanced model-based reinforcement learning technique, named parallel-masked-decaying Monte Carlo Tree Search (PMD-MCTS), for efficient resolution of the MDP. The entire system is authenticated via a real-world case study, and the PMD-MCTS's performance is juxtaposed against existing benchmarks. The results demonstrate the appropriateness of the proposed MDP formulation for tackling RMC delivery tasks. The PMD-MCTS algorithm and one of its ablation algorithms (PM-MCTS) have demonstrated superior performance compared to other benchmarks in either cost reduction or delay minimization, with PMD-MCTS requiring 30% less computation time than PM-MCTS

  • Keywords:
  • Electric vehicle,
  • Ready-mixed concrete delivery; Scheduling optimization; Model-based reinforcement learning; Monte Carlo Tree Search,
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Zhengyi Chen

University of Hong KongThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

Changhao Song

University of Hong KongThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong - ORCID: 0000-0003-0362-8445

Xiao Zhang

University of Hong KongThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

Jack C. P. Cheng

University of Hong KongThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong - ORCID: 0000-0002-1722-2617

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  • Publication Year: 2023
  • Pages: 739-750

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  • Publication Year: 2023

Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Scheduling Optimization of Electric Ready Mixed Concrete Vehicles Using an Improved Model-Based Reinforcement Learning

Authors

Zhengyi Chen, Changhao Song, Xiao Zhang, Jack C. P. Cheng

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0289-3.74

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2023

Copyright Information

© 2023 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

CONVR 2023 - Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality

Book Subtitle

Managing the Digital Transformation of Construction Industry

Editors

Pietro Capone, Vito Getuli, Farzad Pour Rahimian, Nashwan Dawood, Alessandro Bruttini, Tommaso Sorbi

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2023

Copyright Information

© 2023 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0289-3

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-0289-3

eISBN (xml)

979-12-215-0257-2

Series Title

Proceedings e report

Series ISSN

2704-601X

Series E-ISSN

2704-5846

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