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Resource Allocation Optimizer Agent Skill

Optimize construction resource allocation across activities. Level resources, resolve over-allocations, and balance workload while minimizing schedule impact.

5k tokens
context cost
the whole folder, loaded on every use
3
files
instructions only
0
copies elsewhere
how many repositories repackaged it
264
stars on the repo
on the repository, not the skill itself

Install

one command, takes just this skill from the repository
npx skills add https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/DDC_Skills_for_AI_Agents_in_Construction --skill resource-allocation-optimizer

The instruction itself

6 sections, as written by the author

Resource Allocation Optimizer

Overview

Optimize resource allocation in construction schedules. Level workforce and equipment utilization, resolve over-allocations, and balance workload across the project duration.

> "Resource leveling reduces peak demand by 30% and improves productivity" — DDC Community

Resource Leveling Concept

Before Leveling:                    After Leveling:
Workers                             Workers
  20│    ████                         15│  ████████████
  15│  ████████                        10│████████████████
  10│████████████                       5│████████████████████
   5│██████████████████                 0└──────────────────────
   0└────────────────────                  Week 1  2  3  4  5  6
      Week 1  2  3  4  5
                                       Peak reduced, duration extended

Technical Implementation

from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from typing import List, Dict, Optional, Tuple
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
from collections import defaultdict
import heapq

@dataclass
class Resource:
    id: str
    name: str
    resource_type: str  # labor, equipment, material
    capacity: float  # units available per day
    cost_per_unit: float = 0.0
    skills: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)

@dataclass
class ResourceAssignment:
    activity_id: str
    resource_id: str
    units: float  # units required per day
    start_day: int
    end_day: int

@dataclass
class Activity:
    id: str
    name: str
    duration: int
    early_start: int
    late_start: int
    total_float: int
    resource_requirements: Dict[str, float] = field(default_factory=dict)
    is_critical: bool = False

@dataclass
class ResourceProfile:
    resource_id: str
    daily_usage: Dict[int, float]  # day -> units used
    peak_usage: float
    average_usage: float
    utilization_rate: float

@dataclass
class LevelingResult:
    original_duration: int
    new_duration: int
    activities_shifted: List[Tuple[str, int, int]]  # (id, old_start, new_start)
    resource_profiles: Dict[str, ResourceProfile]
    peak_reduction: Dict[str, float]

class ResourceOptimizer:
    """Optimize construction resource allocation."""

    def __init__(self):
        self.resources: Dict[str, Resource] = {}
        self.activities: Dict[str, Activity] = {}
        self.assignments: List[ResourceAssignment] = []

    def add_resource(self, id: str, name: str, resource_type: str,
                    capacity: float, cost_per_unit: float = 0.0,
                    skills: List[str] = None) -> Resource:
        """Add resource to pool."""
        resource = Resource(
            id=id,
            name=name,
            resource_type=resource_type,
            capacity=capacity,
            cost_per_unit=cost_per_unit,
            skills=skills or []
        )
        self.resources[id] = resource
        return resource

    def add_activity(self, id: str, name: str, duration: int,
                    early_start: int, late_start: int,
                    resource_requirements: Dict[str, float] = None,
                    is_critical: bool = False) -> Activity:
        """Add activity with resource requirements."""
        activity = Activity(
            id=id,
            name=name,
            duration=duration,
            early_start=early_start,
            late_start=late_start,
            total_float=late_start - early_start,
            resource_requirements=resource_requirements or {},
            is_critical=is_critical
        )
        self.activities[id] = activity

        # Create assignments
        for res_id, units in activity.resource_requirements.items():
            assignment = ResourceAssignment(
                activity_id=id,
                resource_id=res_id,
                units=units,
                start_day=early_start,
                end_day=early_start + duration
            )
            self.assignments.append(assignment)

        return activity

    def calculate_resource_profile(self, resource_id: str,
                                  activity_starts: Dict[str, int] = None) -> ResourceProfile:
        """Calculate daily resource usage profile."""
        if resource_id not in self.resources:
            raise ValueError(f"Resource {resource_id} not found")

        resource = self.resources[resource_id]
        daily_usage = defaultdict(float)

        # Use provided starts or early starts
        starts = activity_starts or {act.id: act.early_start for act in self.activities.values()}

        for assignment in self.assignments:
            if assignment.resource_id != resource_id:
                continue

            act_start = starts.get(assignment.activity_id, assignment.start_day)
            act = self.activities[assignment.activity_id]

            for day in range(act_start, act_start + act.duration):
                daily_usage[day] += assignment.units

        usage_values = list(daily_usage.values()) if daily_usage else [0]
        project_duration = max(daily_usage.keys()) + 1 if daily_usage else 0

        return ResourceProfile(
            resource_id=resource_id,
            daily_usage=dict(daily_usage),
            peak_usage=max(usage_values),
            average_usage=sum(usage_values) / len(usage_values) if usage_values else 0,
            utilization_rate=sum(usage_values) / (project_duration * resource.capacity) if project_duration else 0
        )

    def identify_overallocations(self) -> Dict[str, List[Tuple[int, float]]]:
        """Identify days where resources are over-allocated."""
        overallocations = {}

        for resource in self.resources.values():
            profile = self.calculate_resource_profile(resource.id)
            over_days = [
                (day, usage - resource.capacity)
                for day, usage in profile.daily_usage.items()
                if usage > resource.capacity
            ]
            if over_days:
                overallocations[resource.id] = over_days

        return overallocations

    def level_resources(self, resource_ids: List[str] = None,
                       allow_duration_extension: bool = True,
                       max_extension_days: int = 30) -> LevelingResult:
        """Level resources by shifting non-critical activities."""
        resource_ids = resource_ids or list(self.resources.keys())

        # Store original starts
        original_starts = {act.id: act.early_start for act in self.activities.values()}
        original_duration = max(act.early_start + act.duration for act in self.activities.values())

        # Current activity starts (will be modified)
        current_starts = dict(original_starts)

        # Sort activities by float (most float = most flexibility)
        sorted_activities = sorted(
            [a for a in self.activities.values() if not a.is_critical],
            key=lambda a: -a.total_float
        )

        activities_shifted = []

        # Iteratively resolve overallocations
        for _ in range(100):  # Max iterations
            overallocations = self._check_overallocations(current_starts, resource_ids)

            if not overallocations:
                break

            # Find activity to shift
            shifted = False
            for act in sorted_activities:
                if act.id in [o[0] for o in overallocations]:
                    # Try to shift this activity
                    new_start = self._find_valid_start(
                        act, current_starts, resource_ids,
                        allow_duration_extension, max_extension_days
                    )

                    if new_start is not None and new_start != current_starts[act.id]:
                        old_start = current_starts[act.id]
                        current_starts[act.id] = new_start
                        activities_shifted.append((act.id, old_start, new_start))
                        shifted = True
                        break

            if not shifted:
                break

        # Calculate new duration and profiles
        new_duration = max(
            current_starts[act.id] + act.duration
            for act in self.activities.values()
        )

        resource_profiles = {}
        peak_reduction = {}

        for res_id in resource_ids:
            original_profile = self.calculate_resource_profile(res_id, original_starts)
            new_profile = self.calculate_resource_profile(res_id, current_starts)
            resource_profiles[res_id] = new_profile
            peak_reduction[res_id] = original_profile.peak_usage - new_profile.peak_usage

        return LevelingResult(
            original_duration=original_duration,
            new_duration=new_duration,
            activities_shifted=activities_shifted,
            resource_profiles=resource_profiles,
            peak_reduction=peak_reduction
        )

    def _check_overallocations(self, starts: Dict[str, int],
                               resource_ids: List[str]) -> List[Tuple[str, int, str]]:
        """Check for overallocations with given starts."""
        overallocations = []

        for res_id in resource_ids:
            resource = self.resources[res_id]
            daily_usage = defaultdict(list)

            for assignment in self.assignments:
                if assignment.resource_id != res_id:
                    continue

                act = self.activities[assignment.activity_id]
                act_start = starts[assignment.activity_id]

                for day in range(act_start, act_start + act.duration):
                    daily_usage[day].append((assignment.activity_id, assignment.units))

            for day, activities in daily_usage.items():
                total = sum(units for _, units in activities)
                if total > resource.capacity:
                    for act_id, _ in activities:
                        overallocations.append((act_id, day, res_id))

        return overallocations

    def _find_valid_start(self, activity: Activity, current_starts: Dict[str, int],
                         resource_ids: List[str], allow_extension: bool,
                         max_extension: int) -> Optional[int]:
        """Find valid start day that doesn't cause overallocation."""
        min_start = activity.early_start
        max_start = activity.late_start if not allow_extension else activity.late_start + max_extension

        for start in range(min_start, max_start + 1):
            # Check if this start causes overallocation
            test_starts = dict(current_starts)
            test_starts[activity.id] = start

            overallocations = self._check_overallocations(test_starts, resource_ids)
            activity_over = [o for o in overallocations if o[0] == activity.id]

            if not activity_over:
                return start

        return None

    def optimize_for_cost(self, target_duration: int = None) -> Dict:
        """Optimize resource allocation for minimum cost."""
        # Calculate baseline cost
        baseline_cost = self._calculate_total_cost()

        # Try different allocation strategies
        strategies = []

        # Strategy 1: Minimize overtime
        overtime_result = self._minimize_overtime()
        strategies.append({
            "strategy": "Minimize Overtime",
            "cost": overtime_result["cost"],
            "duration": overtime_result["duration"]
        })

        # Strategy 2: Level resources
        level_result = self.level_resources()
        level_cost = self._calculate_total_cost(
            {act.id: act.early_start for act in self.activities.values()}
        )
        strategies.append({
            "strategy": "Level Resources",
            "cost": level_cost,
            "duration": level_result.new_duration
        })

        return {
            "baseline_cost": baseline_cost,
            "strategies": strategies,
            "recommended": min(strategies, key=lambda s: s["cost"])
        }

    def _calculate_total_cost(self, starts: Dict[str, int] = None) -> float:
        """Calculate total resource cost."""
        starts = starts or {act.id: act.early_start for act in self.activities.values()}
        total_cost = 0.0

        for res_id, resource in self.resources.items():
            profile = self.calculate_resource_profile(res_id, starts)

            for day, usage in profile.daily_usage.items():
                # Regular cost
                regular_units = min(usage, resource.capacity)
                total_cost += regular_units * resource.cost_per_unit

                # Overtime cost (1.5x)
                overtime_units = max(0, usage - resource.capacity)
                total_cost += overtime_units * resource.cost_per_unit * 1.5

        return total_cost

    def _minimize_overtime(self) -> Dict:
        """Minimize overtime by resource leveling."""
        result = self.level_resources(allow_duration_extension=True)
        cost = self._calculate_total_cost(
            {act.id: act.early_start for act in self.activities.values()}
        )
        return {"cost": cost, "duration": result.new_duration}

    def generate_resource_histogram(self, resource_id: str,
                                   starts: Dict[str, int] = None) -> str:
        """Generate ASCII histogram of resource usage."""
        profile = self.calculate_resource_profile(resource_id, starts)
        resource = self.resources[resource_id]

        if not profile.daily_usage:
            return "No usage data"

        max_day = max(profile.daily_usage.keys())
        max_usage = max(profile.daily_usage.values())

        lines = [
            f"# Resource Histogram: {resource.name}",
            f"Capacity: {resource.capacity} | Peak: {profile.peak_usage}",
            ""
        ]

        # Scale for display
        scale = 20 / max_usage if max_usage > 0 else 1

        for day in range(max_day + 1):
            usage = profile.daily_usage.get(day, 0)
            bar_len = int(usage * scale)
            over = "!" if usage > resource.capacity else " "
            lines.append(f"Day {day:3d}: {'█' * bar_len}{over} ({usage:.1f})")

        return "\n".join(lines)

Quick Start

# Initialize optimizer
optimizer = ResourceOptimizer()

# Add resources
optimizer.add_resource("CARP", "Carpenters", "labor", capacity=10, cost_per_unit=450)
optimizer.add_resource("IRON", "Ironworkers", "labor", capacity=8, cost_per_unit=550)
optimizer.add_resource("CRANE", "Tower Crane", "equipment", capacity=1, cost_per_unit=2500)

# Add activities with resource requirements
optimizer.add_activity(
    "A", "Foundation Forms", duration=10,
    early_start=0, late_start=0,
    resource_requirements={"CARP": 8},
    is_critical=True
)
optimizer.add_activity(
    "B", "Rebar Installation", duration=8,
    early_start=5, late_start=10,
    resource_requirements={"IRON": 6, "CRANE": 1}
)
optimizer.add_activity(
    "C", "Steel Erection", duration=15,
    early_start=10, late_start=10,
    resource_requirements={"IRON": 10, "CRANE": 1},
    is_critical=True
)

# Check for overallocations
overallocations = optimizer.identify_overallocations()
for res_id, days in overallocations.items():
    print(f"{res_id} over-allocated on days: {[d[0] for d in days]}")

# Level resources
result = optimizer.level_resources()
print(f"Duration change: {result.original_duration} → {result.new_duration} days")
print(f"Activities shifted: {len(result.activities_shifted)}")

for res_id, reduction in result.peak_reduction.items():
    print(f"{res_id} peak reduced by: {reduction:.1f} units")

# Generate histogram
print(optimizer.generate_resource_histogram("IRON"))

Requirements

pip install (no external dependencies)

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How to use it

Copy the folder

Take datadrivenconstruction/resource-allocation-optimizer from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.

Check the name does not clash

The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.

Install what it needs

The instructions reference pip. Without those the skill loads but fails at the first command.