Hybrid Multi-Objective Decision Making to Transform Prefabricated Construction
The global construction industry is racing towards smarter, safer, and more efficient project delivery. Among the many innovations shaping this transformation, prefabricated construction stands out for its ability to reduce waste, improve quality control, and save both time and money.
Despite its promise, prefabricated construction presents unique challenges. Tight site layouts, frequent component hoisting, and elevated safety risks all demand a more intelligent approach to Construction Site Layout Planning (CSLP).
Recent research led by Junwu Wang, Zhihao Huang, and Yinghui Song from Wuhan University of Technology, in collaboration with Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, introduces a groundbreaking solution. Their paper, Intelligent Planning of Safe and Economical Construction Sites: Theory and Practice of Hybrid Multi-Objective Decision Making (Frontiers of Engineering Management, 2025), sheds light on how advanced optimisation algorithms can reshape site planning for the prefabrication era.
Why prefabricated construction sites need a smarter plan
Prefabricated construction differs fundamentally from traditional building methods. Instead of fabricating components on site, most elements are manufactured off-site and then delivered for assembly. While this improves efficiency, it introduces new bottlenecks. Cranes must repeatedly lift large modules, site storage is constrained, and overlapping work zones create safety hazards.
Traditional approaches to CSLP have struggled to keep pace with these demands. Heuristic algorithms such as Genetic Algorithms (GA) or Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) can only go so far in balancing multiple competing objectives. Accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability are often sacrificed, leaving construction managers with less-than-optimal layouts.
The research team addressed these shortcomings by developing a more advanced hybrid optimisation method, designed to outperform existing models in speed, precision, and practical application.
Hybrid Multi-Strategy Improvement Dung Beetle Optimizer (HMSIDBO)
At the heart of this breakthrough lies the Hybrid Multi-Strategy Improvement Dung Beetle Optimizer (HMSIDBO). As the name suggests, this algorithm builds upon the Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) but strengthens it with three novel strategies:
- Bernoulli mapping to enhance exploration diversity
- Levy flight strategy to improve jump probability across the solution space
- T-distribution perturbation to refine local optimisation and avoid premature convergence
These modifications allow HMSIDBO to strike a better balance between global search capabilities and local fine-tuning, tackling one of the major weaknesses of the original DBO. In short, it can avoid getting stuck in local optima while still converging on accurate solutions quickly.
The mathematical model: precision in planning
The research team developed a mathematical model for Prefabricated Component Construction Site Layout Planning (PCCSLP). The model includes three key minimisation objectives:
- Reducing the horizontal transportation time of tower cranes
- Minimising the horizontal path length of component lifting
- Decreasing overlapping work areas of multiple tower cranes
Alongside these objectives, seven constraints were introduced, including four boundary conditions and three overlapping rules. Together, these ensure that any proposed site layout is not only efficient but also realistic and safe.
Case study: prefabricated residential projects in Sanya
To test their model, the researchers applied HMSIDBO to a real-world case study involving prefabricated residential projects in Sanya. The results were striking. Compared with the original site layout, the HMSIDBO-optimised plan achieved improvements across every metric:
- 18.3% reduction in average horizontal transportation time for tower cranes
- 23.4% decrease in hazardous areas caused by falling prefabricated components
- 74.3% drop in overlapping work zones between multiple tower cranes
Compared with traditional GA, PSO, DBO, and Whale Optimisation Algorithm (WOA), HMSIDBO consistently delivered faster computation speeds, more accurate resolutions, and stronger global exploration abilities.
Implications for the industry
The practical outcomes of this research could prove game-changing. Prefabrication is set to expand rapidly, particularly in high-density urban environments where land is scarce and construction schedules are unforgiving. Intelligent site layout planning will therefore become critical in helping contractors meet deadlines without compromising safety.
The research demonstrates that hybrid algorithms such as HMSIDBO can:
- Reduce costs by cutting crane operation times
- Improve worker safety by shrinking hazardous zones
- Enhance productivity by reducing spatial conflicts
- Provide scientific decision support for project managers
As Professor Wang notes in the study: “This framework completes the cycle from data collection to multi-objective optimisation in site layout, offering a scientific basis for the efficient and safe management of prefabricated construction sites.”
A wider digital transformation in construction
This development sits within a much broader digital shift in construction. Across the industry, companies are deploying AI-driven scheduling tools, IoT-enabled monitoring systems, and digital twins to plan and manage projects more effectively. Hybrid optimisation methods like HMSIDBO align with this trend, blending advanced computation with practical construction management needs.
Industry experts believe that in the near future, hybrid decision-making algorithms could be integrated directly into Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms, allowing project managers to test multiple site layout scenarios virtually before work begins. This would create a more seamless feedback loop between design and on-site execution.
Towards safer and more economical construction sites
The research from Wuhan University of Technology demonstrates how marrying theory with practical application can yield remarkable results. By harnessing the power of hybrid optimisation, construction managers can design sites that are not only cost-efficient but also safer for workers.
With prefabrication set to play an even greater role in global construction, tools such as HMSIDBO provide a glimpse into a future where projects are delivered faster, with fewer risks, and with better use of space. Intelligent planning is no longer a theoretical concept; it’s rapidly becoming a practical necessity.
