Project Control: Developing the As-Planned S-Curves

Part #2 March 18, 2013 Hide/Unhide Exercises

Purpose
Illustrate how to develop a set of AsPlanned S-Curves from scheduling information and estimates developed sometime before actual construction operations begin. Review the conceptual design estimating process to the extent necessary to set the context.

Learning Objectives
Be able to construct an as-planned schedule of work and cost versus elapsed time from a typical (but simplified) construction project Gantt Chart.
Be able to plot and identify the as Planned SCurves best representing these schedules.

Who Develops the As Planned Gantt Chart? And When?

It depends upon what part of the process is in question. We are going to assume that the Gantt Chart is developed by the Contractor to plan construction operations. We are going to assume that the schedule data are generated sometime before the onset of actual field operations.

Example Construction Project

The project is to reconstruct 2-miles of park access road conforming to Texas FM-Road standards. This involves the following tasks:
Mobilization Equipment, office set up, etc. 2. Sub-base preparation hauling, grading and compaction, redo of some culverts, etc. 3. Base course construction hauling, grading and compaction. 4. Wearing Course construction shoot and chip 5. Demobilization Clean up, equipment, office, etc.
1.

Class Discussion Exercise #2.1 on Construction Methods.

Ask Selected Individuals or Pairs to answer the following: What is Base Material and what is its purpose in the design of the road? How is the Base built? What is shoot and chip? What is Pea Gravel? What is the design profile of a FM Road?

Project Task Duration and Cost Data

Task 1 Mobilization 2 Sub Base 3 Base 4 Pave 5 Demobilization Days 1 10 11 4 2 $$/Day 1,000 3,500 51,000 25,000 1,000

Assume: All labor, material and equipment cost estimates are available from the estimating process. Maximum Task overlap with a 1-day minimum delay on an early start schedule.

Assumed Estimating Process

The entire project is broken into Work Packages (work breakdown structure): build base, shoot and chip, etc. Estimated unit quantities for each work package are calculated from the plans and specifications at an appropriate level of detail. The corresponding unit prices and productivity rates are obtained from historical data We will use the R. S. Means manual in this class. Work Package (or Task or Activity) durations and costs are derived from the historical data as applied to the estimates. These data serve as inputs to the scheduling process which result in Bar-Charts similar to the one on the next slide.

Class Exercise 2.2

As individuals describe the crew (equipment and personnel) configuration necessary to construct the base course. As Pairs agree upon the configuration. As a Team, estimate the hourly cost rate.

Example Gantt Chart with Related S-Curve % Data

Task M S B S D Days 1 10 11 4 2 $$/Day $ 1,000 $ 4,000 $ 50,000 $ 25,000 $ 1,000 ES 1 2 3 12 16 1 M 2 S 3 S B 4 S B 5 S B 6 S B 7 S B 8 S B 9 S B 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 S B S B B S B S S S D D

Cumulative Cost in $$'s

Daily Cost

100%

100%

100% 100%

Cummulativ e Work Units

Daily Work

Simplifying assumptions: All work is equally weighted where 1 day equals 1 unit of work. Daily work accomplished is NOT a function of daily cost.

100%

14%

21%

29%

36%

43%

50%

57%

64%

71%

79%

86%

89%

93%

96%

4%

7%

28

100%

16%

24%

32%

40%

47%

55%

63%

71%

82%

92%

96%

0%

1%

9%

693,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

54,000

75,000

75,000

25,000

25,000

1,000

4,000

1,000

1,000

Class Exercise #2.3

As Individuals, compute the number of cubic yards of base material required to build 2-miles of FM Road base, 24-feet wide, and 1-foot thick? As Pairs, compare answers and then compute the linear feet of daily progress, if you can build 2,700 sq-yds of base per day?

What Does all this Imply?

The relationship between time and cost and time and work.

For example, at the end of day 8 you plan to have completed 50% of the Work and to have spent 47% of the Budget.

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Cost % Work % 0% 4% 1% 7% 9% 14% 16% 21% 24% 29% 32% 36% 40% 43% 47% 50% 55% 57% 63% 64% 71% 71% 82% 79% 92% 86% 96% 89% 100% 93% 100% 96% 100% 100%

Corresponding As-Planned SCurves

As Planned S-Curves

Note: The relationship between the scales. There is a reason to make room for the As-Built S-Curves

100% 90% 80%

200% 180% 160%

Cummulative Cost

60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Schedule in Days

Cumulative Work

70%

140%

Exercise #2.4
Individually, using engineering paper, plot the S-Curves for these data, label the axes, the curves, and the plot. Turn in your work before you leave.

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Cost % Work % 0% 4% 1% 7% 9% 14% 16% 21% 24% 29% 32% 36% 40% 43% 47% 50% 55% 57% 63% 64% 71% 71% 82% 79% 92% 86% 96% 89% 100% 93% 100% 96% 100% 100%

Module Assessment Question

If you had to ask a question about this topic, what would it be?