1

Network Diagram
and Critical Path
COSC 621
Advanced Construction Project
Scheduling & Management
Construction Planning
A general term that sets a clear road map
that should be followed to reach a destination.
Plans at several levels in construction
projects
Corporate strategic plans
Pretender plans
Precontract plans
Short-term construction plans
Long-term construction plans
2
Planning: A Challenge
Planning is the most crucial, knowledge-intensive-
ill-structured, and challenging phase in the project
development cycle.
Planning is the process of representing the project
scope by its identifiable components.
Breakdown of the project into definable, measurable, and
identifiable work tasks
The logical interdependence among them.
What is to be done?
How to dot it?
Who does it?
Planning: A Challenge
Systematic and structured planning
techniques are important for:
Minimizing the potential to overlook something
Sharing of team-work ideas
Having a clear definition of project scope and
desired level of detail
Building confidence and commitment into team
workers
Effectively communicating the plan to site
personnel
3
Logical Relationships
What activities must be finished before the
current one can start?
What activities may be constructed
concurrently with the current one?
What activities must follow the current one?
Logical Relationships
Activity
Description
Depends
Upon
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
Site clearing
Removal of trees
Excavation
Grading
Excavation for utility trenches
Placing formwork and reinforcement for concrete
Installing sewer lines
Pouring concrete
Obtain formwork and reinforcing steel
Obtain sewer lines
Obtain concrete
Steelworker availability
-
-
A
A,B,C
A,B,C
B,C,J,M
B,C,D,E,K
D,E,F,G,L
-
-
-
-
4
Logical Relationships
A
B C
Redundant
Relationship
Activity
Depends Upon
Immediately
Preceding
Activity (IPA)
A
B
C
---
A
A,B
---
A
B
Logical Relationships
Activity
Description IPA
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
Site clearing
Removal of trees
Excavation
Grading
Excavation for utility trenches
Placing formwork and reinforcement for concrete
Installing sewer lines
Pouring concrete
Obtain formwork and reinforcing steel
Obtain sewer lines
Obtain concrete
Steelworker availability
-
-
A
A,B,C
A,B,C
B,C,J,M
B,C,D,E,K
D,E,F,G,L
-
-
-
-
5
Drawing Project Network
Activity
Description IPA
ST
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
FN
Start Activity
Site clearing
Removal of trees
Excavation
Grading
Excavation for utility trenches
Placing formwork and reinforcement for concrete
Installing sewer lines
Pouring concrete
Obtain formwork and reinforcing steel
Obtain sewer lines
Obtain concrete
Steelworker availability
Finish Activity
--
ST
ST
A
B,C
B,C
B,C,J,M
D,E,K
F,G,L
ST
ST
ST
ST
H
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Arrow (AOA)
Activity on Arrow (AOA) Method of Network
Drawing
The arrow represents activities while the nodes
represent the start and the end of an activity.
The length of the arrow has no significance
Each activity has a definite beginning and end
represented by nodes (commonly called events)
Each activity mush have a unique i-j reference
numbers
6
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Arrow (AOA)
5 10
Activity A
Event i Event j
j>i 5 10
Activity A
5 10
A
15
B
5
15
A
20
B
10
C
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Arrow (AOA)
5
15
A 20
B
10
C
25 D
5 10
A
15
B
20 C
7
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Arrow (AOA)
5
20
A
25
B
10
C
30
D
15
Dummy
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Arrow (AOA)
5
A
10
B
5
A
15
B
10
Dummy
8
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
Activity on Node (AON) Method of Network
Drawing
Precedence diagram method
An activity is represented by a name and a
corresponding number enclosed in a symbol
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
10
A
Activity number
Activity name
10
A
20
B
9
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
10
A
30
C
20
B
40
D
10
A
20
B
30
C
40
D
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
ST
(1)
J
(2)
A
(2)
B
(2)
K
(2)
M
(2)
C
(2)
D
(4)
L
(2)
E
(4)
F
(4)
G
(5)
H
(6)
10
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
Activity Sequence Step (SS) IPA
ST
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
FN
SS(ST) = 1
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
3 = 1 + SS(A)
4 = 1 + Highest of [SS(B), SS(C)]
4 = 1 + Highest of [SS(B), SS(C)]
4 = 1 + Highest of [SS(B), SS(C), SS(J), SS(M)]
5 = 1 + Highest of [SS(D), SS(E), SS(K)]
4 = 1 + Highest of [SS(F), SS(G), SS(L)]
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
2 = 1 + SS(ST)
7 = 1 + SS(H)
--
ST
ST
A
B,C
B,C
B,C,J,M
D,E,K
F,G,L
ST
ST
ST
ST
H
Drawing Project Network:
Activity On Node (AON)
5
ST
15
J
20
A
25
B
30
K
10
M
40
C
45
D
35
L
50
E
55
F
60
G
65
H
70
FN
11
Critical-Path Analysis
COSC 621
Advanced Construction Project
Scheduling & Management
Introduction
Perform CPM and PDM analyses for AOA
and AON networks
Calculate the early / late times that an activity
can start / finish.
Determine the total project duration, activity
floats, and the path of critical activities.
Represent the schedule using bar charts
(Gantt charts)
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Introduction
We have known
The picture of the inter-relationships within a project.
The time and cost of individual activities based on our
estimation of the resources and methods of construction to
be used.
However,
How long the total project duration would be?
When is the earliest or latest times at which activities start
and finish?
What are the critical activates so that special care is taken
to make sure they are not delayed?
Meaning of Construction
Scheduling
For contractors
When and how much labor is needed?
For vendors
When they need to deliver materials?
For subcontractors
When they can do their work?
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Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
A forward pass to determine activities early-
start times.
A backward pass to determine activities late-
finish times.
Float calculations.
Identifying critical activities.
Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Forward pass in AOA networks
1 3
5
7
9 11
A
D
C
d1 B
d2
E
0 3
6
9
9
14
Project
Start=0
ES+d=EF
0+3=3
d=3
3
6
4 5
3+3=6
9+5=14
6+0=6 or
3+4=7 or
9+0=9
3+6=9
14
Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Backward pass in AOA Networks
1 3
5
7
9 11
A
D
C
d1 B
d2
E
0 3
6
9
9
14
Project
Start=0
9-3=6 or
9-4=5 or
9-6=3
3
3
6
4 d=5
9-0=9
Project
Late finish
14-5=9
LF-d=LS
0 3
9
9
9
14
9-0=9
Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
ES EF=ES+d Total Float
ES Total Float LS=LF-d
LF
LF
i j
Name
Duration=d
ES LF
Total time available for the activity = LF - ES
15
Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Float
Number of days that an activity, event, or lag can be
delayed or extended without impacting the overall
completion of the project
Starting Float
Number of days that the start of an activity can be delayed
without impacting the completion of the project or the late
finish of the specific activity
Starting Float = Late Start Early Start
Finish Float
Number of days that the completion of an activity can be
postponed without impacting the completion of the project.
Finish Float = Late Finish Early Finish
Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Task Float or Total Float
Number of days that the duration of a specific activity can be
increased without impacting the project completion.
Task Float = Late Finish Early Start - Duration
Free Float
Number of days that an activity can be delayed without taking
float away from any other activity.
Free Float = ES
(Succeeding activity)
EF
(Activity in question)
Relationship Float
Relationship Float
(Start-to-Start)
= LS
(Successor Node)
ES
(Predecessor Node)
Lag
Relationship Float
(Finish-to-Finish)
= LS
(Successor Node)
ES
(Predecessor Node)
Lag
Relationship Float
(Finish-to-Start)
= LS
(Successor Node)
ES
(Predecessor Node)
Lag
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Network Scheduling:
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Yes 0 14 9 14 9 5 E
Yes 0 9 3 9 3 6 D
No 2 7 5 9 3 4 C
No 3 6 6 9 3 3 B
Yes 0 3 0 3 0 3 A
Critical
Activity
Total Float
TF=LF-
ES-d
Early Finish
EF=ES+d
Late Start
LS=LF-d
Late Finish
(LF)
Early Start
(ES)
Duration
(d)
Activity
Float
Calculations
Calculations of Other
Activity Times
Results of Forward
And Backward Pass
Network Scheduling:
Precedence Diagram Method (PDM)
A (3)
3 0
B (3)
6 3
C (4)
7 3
D (6)
9 3
E (5)
14 9
6, 7, or 9
Name (duration)
Early finish Early start
Forward Pass
17
Network Scheduling:
Precedence Diagram Method (PDM)
3 0
A (3)
3 0
9 6
B (3)
6 3
9 5
C (4)
7 3
9 3
D (6)
9 3
14 9
E (5)
14 9
3, 5, or 6
Late finish Late start
Name (duration)
Early finish Early start
Backward Pass
Primavera Project
Planner
COSC 621
Advanced Construction Project
Scheduling & Management
18
Primavera Project Planner
Creating a New Project
Calendar Setup
Standard Daily Information
Holidays List
Selecting Nonwork Period
Add 2
nd
Calendar
Activity Codes
Allow the project planner to track the project by specific geographic areas as
well as generate information about the entire project.
Useful for assigning individual superintendents to specific activities.
Total of 64 characters.
Project Codes
Set of fixed fields that allow the user to enter project specific descriptive
information.
Primavera Project Planner
Activity Input
Activity Incrementing (Tool > Options > Activity Inserting)
Activity Types
Task: Schedules activities according to the base calendar assigned to it.
Independent: Works according to its own resource calendar.
Meeting: Schedules a meeting activity when all resources attached to the
activity are available.
Start Milestone: Marks the start of a significant event in the project.
Finish Milestone: Marks the end of a significant event in the project.
Start Flag: Marks the start of a string of activities.
Finish Flag: Marks the end of a string of activities.
Hammock: An activity that spans a group of activities.
WBS: Rolls up or summarizes activities that have common prefixes.
Importing Activity Data
Generating a Template: Tool > Project Utilities > Exports
Relationship Input
Format > Row Height
Calculating the Schedule
19
Primavera Project Planner
Calculating the Schedule
Schedule durations: Contiguous or Interruptible
Calculate total float as: Most critical, Start float, or Finish Float
Changing the Time Scale
Reorganizing the Schedule
Saving a Project
Opening an Existing Project
Backing Up Projects
Restoring a Project
Generating Reports
Early Start Report
Critical Activity List Report
Responsibility Schedule Report
Graphical Reports
Bar Chart Schedule
Timescaled Logic Diagrams
Primavera Project Planner
Resource Loading
Defining Resources
Defining Cost Accounts
Loading Resources on the Individual Activities
Producing Resource Loading Reports
Graphic Resource Output
Cost Loading and Cash Flow
Loading Cost Data on the Individual Activities
Cash Flow
Schedule of Values
Progress Payments
Project Cash Inflows Plan
Cost Loading Report
Project Cost Plan
20
Primavera Project Planner
Progress Planning and Control
Developing the Progress Plan
Determining Actual Project Progress
Creating Planned Progress Curves
Project Analysis and Forecasting
Project Costs
Analysis of Labor Operations Report
Labor Performance
Project Progress
Material and Subcontract Costs
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
25
Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
Primavera Project Planner
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Primavera Project Planner
A(4)
B(6)
D(8) E(4)
F(10)
C(2) J(6)
K(10)
H(8) I(6) Start
End
G(16)