The major problem arises at a shipyard because of scarcity of space for arranging the building blocks of a ship under construction. A standardized erection sequence diagram is generally available to provide the prioritized erection sequence, and it serves as the framework. In order to make a timely erection of the blocks, a post plan has to be developed so that the blocks lie in the nearest possible vicinity of the material-handling devices while keeping the priority of erection, and the blocks are arranged in the pre-erection area. The genetic algorithm based solution procedure is developed to produce the optimal spatial arrangement. An innovative algorithm nicknamed ISBAS (Intelligent Spatial Block Arrangement Scheduler) has been developed and implemented using genetic algorithm, and a workable computer program has been developed using VC++. The detailed genetic operation is performed to run to meet the objectives of the critically complicated problem. Also, hand-in-hand algorithms such as knapsack problem, traveling salesmen problem, and weight assignment algorithms are used to segregate the better options. An indigenously developed looking-forward algorithm is also in place.
