1

Code: 9A01710

B.Tech IV Year I Semester (R09) Regular & Supplementary Examinations December/January 2013/14

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours

Max. Marks: 70
Answer any FIVE questions
All questions carry equal marks
*****

1 (a) Describe the characteristics of a megaproject. Explain why are megaprojects often
controversial.
(b) A crew of five masons takes 8 hours to build a wall consisting of 1000 blocks. Express the
productivity in terms of blocks per man-hour.
2

Assume that you have examined the different types of non-traditional construction and have
learned about a range of problems which may arise. Review those identified problems and try
to generalize those which non-traditional properties may share.

Soil classification should not be regarded as an end in itself but as a tool to enhance your
knowledge of soil behavior. Comment on this statement and describe the classification of
soils.

The type of explosive used in any project depends on the hardness and structural
characteristics of the rock and overall geometry of the cut. Comment on this statement with
different examples of explosives.

5 (a) Both schedules and budgets are necessary parts of any plan. What do you think is the
backbone of any good schedule or budget? Justify your answer.
(b) Discuss the responsibilities for key members in the project team.
6 (a) Explain about work break down structures in detail with an example.
(b) Explain what precedence diagramming methods are and how they can be used to understand
project duration and flexibility.
Contd. in page 2
Page 1 of 2

Code: 9A01710
7

A project consists of the following activities and time estimates.

a) Find the expected time and the variance for each activity.
b) What is the probability that the project will be completed 4 weeks earlier that the expected
time?
c) What is the probability that the project will be completed in 19 weeks?
Activity
(1,2)
(1,3)
(1,4)
(2,5)
(3,5)
(4,6)
(5,6)

Estimated duration in weeks

Optimistic
Most likely
Pessimistic
1
1
7
1
4
7
2
2
8
1
1
1
2
5
14
2
5
8
3
6
15

A network consists of following list. Times are given in weeks.

Activity
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Preceding
--A, B
B
C
D, E
F

Optimistic
5
3
6
3
4
6
2
3

Probable
11
3
10
5
6
8
4
3

Pessimistic
14
9
14
7
11
13
6
9

a) Draw the network diagram.

b) Calculate the expected duration and variance of each activity.
c) Calculate the expected duration and variance of the critical path.
d) Calculate the probability that the project will be completed in less than 28 weeks.

*****

Page 2 of 2

Code: 9A01710

B.Tech IV Year I Semester (R09) Regular & Supplementary Examinations December/January 2013/14

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours

Max. Marks: 70
Answer any FIVE questions
All questions carry equal marks
*****

1 (a) Are designers selected through competitive bidding. Describe the basis for their selection.
(b) How does value engineering allow cost sharing of savings during a project? What construction
party identifies savings during construction?
2

What the requirements and suitability of systems for modern methods of construction (MMC)?
Explain the types of MMC.

Describe the trenchless technologies in pipeline construction.

4 (a) Explain the different types of drilling methods.

(b) Differentiate between downhole drilling rig and percussion/track drilling rig.
5 (a) Explain the main cause of project failure.
(b) Discuss the roles of project manager in detail.
6 (a) Explain why the critical path is the longest, not the shortest, path through a network.
(b) Discuss the cost trade-off in project crashing.

Contd. in page 2

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Code: 9A01710
7

A partially solved PERT problem is detailed in the table below. Times are give in weeks
(a) Calculate the expected time for each activity. Enter these values in the appropriate column
in the table above.
(b) Which activities form the critical path?
(c) What is the estimated time of the critical path?
(d) What are the project variance and the project standard deviation?
(e) What is the probability of completion of the project after week 40?
Activity

Preceding

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K

-A
A
A
B
B
C, F
D
H
G, I
E, J

Optimistic
Time
7
2
8
3
4
6
2
2
6
4
2

Probable
Time
9
2
12
5
6
8
3
2
8
6
2

Pessimistic
Time
14
8
16
10
8
10
4
8
16
14
5

Expected
Time

variance
1.361
0
0
1.361
0
0
0
1.000
2.778
2.778
0.250

The following table gives the cost particulars of a project. If the indirect cost is Rs. 100 per
day, find the least cost schedule.

Activity
(1, 2)
(1, 3)
(2, 4)
(2, 5)
(3, 4)
(4, 5)

Normal
Time
(days)
8
4
2
10
5
3

Cost
(Rs)
100
150
50
100
100
80

Crash
Time
(days)
6
2
1
5
1
1

Cost
(Rs)
200
350
90
100
200
100

*****

Page 2 of 2

T
2
2
1
5
4
2

100
200
40
300
100
20

Code: 9A01710

B.Tech IV Year I Semester (R09) Regular & Supplementary Examinations December/January 2013/14

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours

Max. Marks: 70
Answer any FIVE questions
All questions carry equal marks
*****

1 (a) Describe the role of owner, designer and contractor in the construction process.
(b) What documents describe the design of a construction project? How do they differ? Explain.
2 (a) Explain the construction equipment deployed in large scale building works.
(b) Describe the factors influences during a site selection. Explain with a infrastructure
development project.
3

Use of mechanized equipment poses significant crushing and striking hazards during
excavation works. Elaborate.

4 (a) Describe the effect of geologic structure on blasting procedure.

(b) Explain the different methods of blasting.
5 (a) Effective control systems identify deviations from project plans and commitments early
enough to eliminate surprises and allow correction Explain this statements.
(b) Explain the project development process.
6 (a) Discuss the guidelines for constructing a project network.
(b) Distinguish between resource leveling and resource allocation.

Contd. in page 2

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Code: 9A01710
7 (a) A network consists of the following list. Times are given in weeks.
(i) Draw the network diagram.
(ii) Calculate the expected duration and variance of each activity.
(iii) Calculate the expected duration and variance of the critical path.
(iv) Calculate the probability that the project will be completed in less than 28 weeks.
Activity
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Preceding
--A, B
B
C
D, E
F

Optimistic
5
3
6
3
4
6
2
3

Probable
11
3
10
5
6
8
4
3

Pessimistic
14
9
14
7
11
13
6
9

(b) Three activities are candidates for crashing on a CPM network. Activity details are in the table
below.
Activity
A
B
C

Normal Time
9 days
5 days
12 days

Normal Cost
Rs 8,000
Rs 2,000
Rs 9,000

Crash Duration
7 days
3 days
11 days

Crash Cost
Rs 12,000
Rs 10,000
Rs 12,000

(i) What is the crash cost per unit time for activity A?
(ii) What is the crash cost per unit time for activity B?
(iii) Which activity should be crashed first to cut one day from the projects duration; how much
is added to project cost?
(iv) Which activity should be the next activity crashed to cut a second day from the projects
duration; how much is added to project cost?
(v) Assuming no other paths become critical, how much can this project be shortened at what
total added cost?
8 (a) Three activities are candidates for crashing on a CPM network. Activity details are in the table
below.
(i) What is the crash cost per unit time for each of the three activities?
(ii) Which activity should be crashed first to cut one day from the projects duration; how much
is added to project cost?
(iii) Which activity should be the next activity crashed to cut a second day from the projects
duration; how much is added to project cost?
Activity
X
Y
Z

Normal Time
8 days
3 days
12 days

Normal Cost
Rs 6,000
Rs 1,800
Rs 5,000

Crash Duration
6 days
2 days
9 days

Crash cost
Rs 8,000
Rs 2,400
Rs 7,700

(b) How is the expected completion time of project activity, and of a PERT project, computed?
*****
Page 2 of 2

Code: 9A01710

B.Tech IV Year I Semester (R09) Regular & Supplementary Examinations December/January 2013/14

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours

Max. Marks: 70
Answer any FIVE questions
All questions carry equal marks
*****

1 (a) How is the construction industry different from a manufacturing industry? Explain.
(b) Can a contractor refuse to do change order work. Explain.
2 (a) Explain the concept of prefabrication in construction. How it is essential to a large scale
project.
(b) Elaborate the necessity of false work and temporary works in an office building.
3

Elaborate the significant development in pipeline construction.

4 (a) Explain; (i) production blasting and (ii) controlled blasting

(b) Describe the advantages and limitations of common excavation practices.
5 (a) Project controls system provides timely information for proactive construction management.
Explain in detail.
(b) Explain the basic concepts in the development of construction plans.
6 (a) It has been said the WBS and Gantt charts are each useful tools, but neither is complete for
managing projects. What is missing from one that is present in the other so that the two tools
are complementary? Discuss.
(b) What are some of the ethical issues faced by project managers? Which of these are likely to
occur before a project begins, which are likely to occur while the project is underway, and
which may occur after a project is complete? Illustrate any one of these from recent new.

Contd. in page 2

Page 1 of 2

Code: 9A01710
7

The network below represents a project being analyzed by critical path methods. Activity
durations are indicated on the network.
a) Identify the activities on the critical path.
b) What is the duration of the critical path?
c) Calculate the amount of slack time at activity H.
d) If activity I were delayed by ten time units, What would be the impact on the project
duration.

11

End

E
Start

B
3

I
5

G
4

D
4

F
6

H
3

Consider the network described in the table below.

Activity
J
K
L
M
N
O
P

Immediate
Predecessor(s)
--J
J
K, M
K, M
L, N

Pessimistic

Probable

Optimistic

15
9
10
3
9
10
10

10
8
6
3
5
7
8

8
7
5
3
1
4
3

(a) Calculate the expected duration of each activity.

(b) Calculate the expected duration and variance of the critical path.
(c) Calculate the probability that the project will be completed in fewer than 30 time units.

*****
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