Project

Management
andControl
(AE 452)
Lecture 8
 A bar chart is ‘‘a graphic representation of project
activities, shown in a time-scaled bar line with no
links shown between activities’’
The bar chart was originally developed by Henry L. Gantt in
1.Definition and
1917 and is alternatively called Gantt chart
Introduction
It quickly became popular—especially in the
construction industry—because of its ability to
graphically represent a project’s activities on a
time scale.
 • Before a bar chart can be constructed for a project, the
project must be broken into smaller, usually
homogeneous components, each of which is called an
activity, or a task.
• An activity, or a task, may be as large as laying the
foundation of a building, as small as erecting the
formwork of one footing
1.Definition and • On a bar chart, the bar may not indicate continuous work
Introduction
from the start of the activity until its end. For example, the
activity Getting a Building Permit may be represented by a 2-
month-long bar. However, most of this time is a waiting
period.Likewise, a Concrete Foundation summary activity
may include several days of waiting for concrete to cure
 Noncontinuous (dashed) bars are sometimes used to distinguish between
real work (solid line) and inactive periods (gaps between solid lines)
bar charts have evolved to
• some simply show the start and end of each activity
Figure 8.1 Figure 8.2
1.Definition and
Introduction

Figure 8.1 Bar chart for placing a simple slab on a grade

Figure 8.2 Alternative bar chart for placing a simple slab on a grade placed in two parts
 • some are loaded with resource or budget numbers

1.Definition and
Introduction Figure 8.3 Bar chart for placing a simple slab on a grade, with activities ‘‘necked’’ during nonwork periods

Figure 8.5 Bar chart—loaded with the budget—for construction of a two-story building
 • others compare the as-planned schedule with the as-built schedule
(Figure 8.6)

1.Definition and
Introduction
Figure 8.6 Bar chart for replacement of an old roof, showing a comparison between the
percent complete of the planned (as-planned) activities (thin line) and that of the actual
(as-built) activities (thick line). The dashed line is an extrapolation of the actual curve.
 Since bar charts basically use the x-axis only (to depict time), the y-axis is
used (in addition to showing individual activities)
man-hours (Figure 8.4), budget (Figure 8.5), percent complete (Figure 8.6),

1.Definition and
Introduction

Figure 8.4 Bar chart—loaded with man-hours—for construction of a two-story building

This variable is usually shown as a curve superimposed on the bar chart. In

Figure 8.5, S curves (also called lazy-S curves)
 • Primavera Project Manager (P6)
• Navisworks

2.software
 • No ‘‘theory’’ or complicated calculations are involved. Anyone can
understand them. They can be prepared anywhere with just a pencil and
paper

• bar charts can carry—or be loaded with—other information

• bar charts particularly appeal to persons who do not have a technical

3.Advantages of background
Bar Charts
• A final advantage of bar charts is that, with the advent of the critical
path method (CPM) and the evolution of powerful computers, bar charts
did not perish or lose importance. Instead, they evolved to a different
supporting role that made them more valuable and popular
 critical path method (CPM)

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3.Advantages of START
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Bar Charts order 4-64 the order
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 critical path method (CPM)

3. critical path
https://youtu.be/pLKGDqQfBTI
method (CPM)
 • The main disadvantage of bar charts is lack of logical
representation (relationships): Why did this activity start on that
date? Bar charts do not reveal the answer

• bar charts do not allow the length of the bars to be

subjectively changed or the bars to be moved around to make
3.Disadvantages of the chart look or read better.
Bar Charts
• Another limitation, rather than a disadvantage, of bar charts
is the size and complexity of projects. Bar charts may not be
practical for projects with large numbers of activities—
unless you use them in two ways:
 1. You show a subset of the work activities to maintain the simplicity of the
chart. For example, the general contractor can produce bar charts for
activities during only a certain period, for critical activities (activities that
cannot be delayed or the entire project would be delayed.

2. You show summary bars (each bar represents a group of activities

combined on the basis of a certain criterion such as department, major
3.Diadvantages of component, or responsibility). This can be done during the early planning
Bar Charts phase

Figure 8.7 Bar chart representing the summary activities for

constructing a bridge
Thank you