The making and reading of a network

diagram requires some familiarity of the

network conventions. One of the main
features of PERT and CPM is their use of a
network or precedence diagram, clearly
indicate which of the activities must be
performed in the sequence and which can be
performed independently with each other.
The network diagram is composed of a
number of Arrows and Nodes.
 There are two slightly different conventions for
making a network diagram. They are:
1. Activity on Arrow (AOA) – that is using arrow
to designate activities
2. Activity on Node (AON) – using nodes to
designate activities

A B a b
1 2 3
AOA
AON
 The Nodes in the AOA approach represent
the beginning and the end of activities, which
are called events. Events are points in time.
Unlike activities, they do not consume either
resources or time. Activities can be referred
to in two ways.
One is by their end points such as activity
1-2 and other is by a letter assigned to an
arrow such as activity a,b,c etc. The network
describes sequential relationships among
different activities on a project. For instance,
activity 2-3 cannot be started according to
the network until activity 1-2 has been
completed.
A B Work B cannot start
until work A is
completed.
A C cannot start until
C both A and B are
completed.
B
 B A must be completed
before either B or C can
A start.
C

A B Both A and C must be

completed before either B
or D can start.

C D
 A C Both A and B must
be completed before C
x can start. D depends only
on B and A. X is called
B D dummy

A C D depends on A and B.
y C depends on A only
y is a dummy
B D
 Principle No. 1
That everything in the network or arrow
diagram must have a meaning. Thus;
a) Every arrow represent an item of work and is
called Activity.
Excavation
b) An Event is the starting point of an Activity
represented by a circle, or square or any
geometrical shape.
Excavation

c) An Activity is dependent upon and cannot

begin until after the completion of all
preceding activities.
Making forms Pouring footing slab
Order and
deliver cement
3
d) All activities that start with the same event
cannot begin until after the completion of all
activities, that enter that event

Making forms Pour footing slab

3
Order and
deliver cement Pour pedestal
 That an activity has a single definite
starting point and a single definite ending
point.
An arrow in the network must satisfy two
basic questions:
1. What activities must be completed before
this one can start?
2. What activities cannot be started if this one
is not completed?
 Pour footing Block laying
4

1
Digging 2
Forms 3
Wall footing