Abstract: Equipment selection is the core of earthwork allocation engineering, and reasonable equipment selection serves as an effective safeguard for construction cost, progress and quality of a project. This paper describes an enhanced whale optimization algorithm (E-WOA) coupled with AnyLogic simulation platform for optimizing the machinery configuration scheme efficiently. First, an optimization model with the minimum total cost and expense is developed by analyzing the earthwork allocation deployment process systematically. Then, an AnyLogic simulation platform is used to construct a simulation model based on multiple-agents, which comprehensively describes the interaction relationship and dynamic process between equipment (excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, and roller), road, platform (unloading platform and parking platform), and other entity elements. Finally, E-WOA is introduced to couple with AnyLogic, and a simulation controller is developed to control the coupled model for automatic solving of the optimization problem. Application to engineering case studies demonstrates that this method can lead to a time saving of 11.11% and a cost reduction of 27.34%, thereby offering valuable insights for the management of earthwork allocation deployment projects.

Key words: earthwork allocation, equipment selection optimization, simulation model, enhanced whale optimization algorithm (E-WOA), AnyLogic