Illinois Institute of Technology

Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering

CAE 471 – Construction Planning and Scheduling

Spring Semester, 2017

Class schedule: Mondays, 6:25-9:05

Instructor: Lee Welsh, M. Eng., P.E.
Office: Alumni Memorial Hall, Adjunct Office
Office hours: Monday, 5:15 – 6:15 (or by appointment)
Phone: 312-567-3540 (CAEE Main Office)
E-Mail: welslee@iit.edu

TA: Juneseok Yang

Office: Alumni Memorial Hall, Room 220-C
Office hours: Monday, 2:00 – 4:00 PM or by appointment
Office phone: 312-567-3901
Email: jyang39@hawk.iit.edu
Course Description:
This course will provide detailed instruction on planning, scheduling, and control of
construction projects. Topics covered in this course include bar charts, Critical Path
Method (CPM), Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM), Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT), Linear Scheduling Method (LSM), resource allocation and leveling,
time-cost trade-off analysis, schedule updating, compression, optimization, monitoring
and control, and Primavera scheduling software.
Course Objectives:
This course aims to demonstrate how proper construction scheduling at all phases of a
project improves the outcome of the project. Course objectives are (1) to understand
concepts of Construction planning and scheduling, (2) to review scheduling theories
commonly used in the construction industry, (3) to understand the major types of delay
analyses, and (4) to understand how to use the construction scheduling software,
Primavera.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Understand basic planning and scheduling techniques using bar charts, Critical
Path Method (CPM), Performance and Evaluation Review Technique (PERT), and
Linear Scheduling Method (LSM).
2. Create, update, and maintain bar charts using the Critical Path Method to plan a
construction project.
3. Resource load schedules, level resources, perform cost analyses, perform time vs.
cost trade offs, and optimize the schedule.
4. Understand the major types of schedule delay analyses including their strengths
and weaknesses.
5. Build detailed construction schedules using Primavera scheduling software.

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Required Textbook:
Hinze, Jimmie (2004). Construction Planning and Scheduling. 4th Edition, Prentice Hall,
NJ.
Course Outline:

Date Topic Reading Assignment

Course Introduction
Intro to Construction Planning and Scheduling
09JAN17  Planning and Scheduling Chapter 1
 Work Breakdown Structure
 Bar Charts

16JAN17 MLK DAY (NO CLASS)

Building a Network Models

 Defining Activities
23JAN17 Chapters 2 & 4
 Estimating Durations
 Ordering Activities

30JAN17 Precedence Diagram Method Chapter 3

06FEB17 Resource Allocation and Leveling Chapter 6

Computer Scheduling - Building a Schedule

13FEB17 Chapter 9
Midterm Review

20FEB17 MIDTERM EXAM I

27FEB17 Computer Scheduling - Using Resources

Contract Time
06MAR17 Cash Flow Chapters 5 & 7
Time/Cost Trade-off Analysis

13MAR17 SPRING BREAK (NO CLASS) Chapter 9

Monitoring and Control

20MAR17 Chapters 8 & 10
Earned Value Analysis
Delay Analysis
27MAR17 Chapters 11 & 12
Midterm Review

03APR17 MIDTERM EXAM II

Short-interval Schedules
10APR17 Linear Scheduling Method Chapters 13 & 14
***SCHEDULE PROJECTS DUE***
Chapter 15
17APR17 Program Evaluation and Review Technique

Arrow Diagram Method

24APR17 Chapter 16
Return Projects and Review for Final

01MAY17 FINAL EXAM

Note: Class schedule subject to change depending on pace of course.

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Course Evaluation:
Assessment measures are (1) performance and effort in completing homework
assignments, (2) performance in preparing a computerized project schedule (3) grades
in mid-terms, (4) grades in final exam.
Grade Distribution:
1. Homework Assignments 5%
2. Primavera Project 20%
3. Midterm Exams 50% (25% EACH)
4. Final Exam 25%

Grade Scale:

A: 90% and above

B: 80% - 89%
C: 70% - 79%
D: 60% - 69% (Undergraduate Students only)
E: 59% and below (69% and below for Graduate Students)
Open Labs:
The Primavera software required to complete the computerized schedule project is
available in the OTS Virtual Computer Lab (VCL).
Information:
Course materials (syllabus, references, handouts, homework assignments, solutions) will
be posted on Blackboard.
Academic Honesty:
All students must follow the University’s Code of Academic Honesty. A copy of the code
may be found at:
http://www.iit.edu/student_affairs/handbook/information_and_regulations/code_of_acad
emic_honesty.shtml.
Any student who violates the Code of Academic Honesty will be reported to the
University.
ADA Assistance:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities. In
order to receive accommodations, students must obtain a letter of accommodation from
the Center for Disability Resources. The Center for Disability Resources (CDR) is located
in 3424 S. State St., room 1C3-2 (on the first floor), telephone: 312.567.5744 or
disabilities@iit.edu

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Optional References:
AACEI (2007), Recommended Practice 29-03, Forensic Schedule Analysis. AACE
International.
Marchman, David A. (1998). Construction Scheduling with Primavera Project Planner.
Delmar Publishing Company, NY.
Primavera Software User Manuals
Trauner, Theodore J., et al (2009). Construction Delays: Understanding Them Clearly,
Analyzing Them Correctly (2nd ed.). Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, MA.
Wickwire, J. M. (2003). Construction scheduling: preparation, liability, and claims (2nd
ed.). New York: Aspen Publishers.