Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Scheduling Techniques II
Part I
WEEK-9
 Scheduling using Rectangular bar chart
● A Gantt chart, also known as a rectangular bar chart, is a popular project
management tool used for scheduling and tracking the progress of project activities.
It provides a visual timeline for the project, displaying start and end dates of
activities, their duration, and dependencies between tasks. Here's how to create and
use a Gantt chart for scheduling:
 Scheduling using Rectangular bar chart
● Components of a Gantt Chart:
● Tasks/Activities: A list of all tasks required to complete the project.
● Timeline: A horizontal time axis representing the duration of the project, divided
into days, weeks, months, or years.
● Bars: Horizontal bars representing the duration of each task. The position and
length of the bars correspond to the start and end dates of the tasks.
● Dependencies:Arrows or lines connecting tasks that indicate their dependencies
(e.g., which tasks must be completed before others can start).
 Scheduling using Rectangular bar chart
Steps to Create a Gantt Chart:
Define Project Tasks: List all tasks required for the project. Break down the project into
manageable activities or work packages.
Estimate Duration: Determine the time required to complete each task.
Identify Dependencies: Determine the relationships between tasks. Identify which tasks
depend on the completion of others.
Set Up the Timeline: Create a horizontal timeline that covers the entire project duration.
Divide it into appropriate intervals (days, weeks, months).
Plot the Tasks: For each task, draw a horizontal bar that starts at the task’s start date and
ends at its finish date.
Add Dependencies: Draw arrows or lines to show dependencies between tasks,
indicating the order in which tasks must be completed.
how a bar chart is typically used in construction:
1. Scheduling: Bar charts are used to create project schedules by breaking down the entire
construction project into smaller tasks or activities. Each activity is represented by a bar on the
chart, with the length of the bar indicating the duration of the activity.
2. Dependencies: Bar charts help in identifying dependencies between different tasks. By visually
representing these dependencies, project managers can plan the sequence of activities to
ensure that they are completed in the correct order.
3. Resource Allocation: Bar charts can also be used to allocate resources efficiently by showing
when and where resources are needed throughout the project timeline.
4. Monitoring Progress: During the construction phase, project managers can use bar charts to
track the progress of activities. By comparing the planned schedule with the actual progress,
they can identify any delays or deviations and take corrective actions.
5. Communication: Bar charts are useful for communicating the project schedule to stakeholders,
team members, and clients. They provide a clear visual representation of the project timeline and
help in setting expectations regarding project milestones.
 Exercise Problem of gantt chart
● PB#1
● Create a Gantt chart for this project, showing the dependencies, lags, and leads.
● Site Preparation - 7 days
● Foundation - 10 days (starts 1 day after Site Preparation finishes)
● Framing - 15 days (depends on Foundation)
● Plumbing - 8 days (can start 3 days before Framing finishes)
● Electrical - 7 days (depends on Framing)
● Drywall - 6 days (starts 2 days after both Plumbing and Electrical finish)
● Painting - 4 days (depends on Drywall)
● Flooring - 5 days (starts 1 day after Drywall finishes)
● Final Inspection - 2 days (depends on Painting and Flooring)
 Exercise Problem of gantt chart
● PB#2
● Create a Gantt chart for this project, showing the dependencies, lags, and leads.
● Site Preparation - 7 days
● Foundation - 10 days (starts 1 day after Site Preparation finishes)
● Framing - 15 days (depends on Foundation)
● Plumbing - 8 days (can start 3 days before Framing finishes)
● Electrical - 7 days (depends on Framing)
● Drywall - 6 days (starts 2 days after both Plumbing and Electrical finish)
● Painting - 4 days (depends on Drywall)
● Flooring - 5 days (starts 1 day after Drywall finishes)
● Final Inspection - 2 days (depends on Painting and Flooring)
 Exercise Problem of gantt chart
● PB#3
 Exercise Problem of gantt chart
● Continue
● Create a Gantt chart for this project, showing the dependencies and durations.
● Site Preparation - 7 days
● Foundation - 10 days (depends on Site Preparation)
● Framing - 15 days (depends on Foundation)
● Plumbing - 8 days (depends on Framing)
● Electrical - 7 days (depends on Framing)
● Drywall - 6 days (depends on Plumbing and Electrical)
● Painting - 4 days (depends on Drywall)
● Flooring - 5 days (depends on Drywall)
● Final Inspection - 2 days (depends on Painting and Flooring)
 Exercise Problem of gantt chart
● PB#4
 Critical path analysis
● Critical path analysis is the process of identifying the longest path in a schedule
network diagram.
● The analysis not only indicates completeness of project schedule but also ascertains
degree of scheduling flexibility. Moreover, critical path analysis also reveals the
minimum duration required to complete a project.
● Critical path analysis also specifies link between project activities. It is important to
realize that not all activities can start and finish on time.
● Hence critical path analysis specifies permissible delays to activities that are not on
critical path. Thus schedule flexibility is the permissible delay that does not affect
project completion date.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
● The first activity of critical path analysis is to draw a schedule network
diagram.
● The critical path analysis uses Precedence Diagram Method (PDM) to
construct the schedule network.
● Further, PDM method uses Activity-on-Node (AON) diagramming
technique to represent the schedule logic.
● In AON the nodes represent the schedule activities. Most of the
scheduling programs use PDM technique to construct project network
diagram.
● Therefore, critical path analysis example problem uses activity-on-node
method to represent the schedule network logic.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
● Activities:

● Tasks or work components that need to be completed. Each activity is a

part of the project and has a defined start and end
● Dependencies:
● Relationships between activities that determine the sequence in which
they must be performed. Dependencies can be finish-to-start (FS),
start-to-start (SS), finish-to-finish (FF), or start-to-finish (SF).
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
● Duration:

● The total time required to complete an activity, usually measured in days,

weeks, or months.
● Critical Path:
● The longest path through the project network diagram, consisting of
activities that directly impact the project completion time. Any delay in
the critical path activities will delay the project.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
● Earliest Start Time (ES):The earliest time an activity can start without delaying the
project. It is determined by the earliest finish times of its predecessor activities.

● Earliest Finish Time (EF):The earliest time an activity can finish. It is calculated by
adding the activity's duration to its earliest start time (EF = ES + Duration).

● Latest Start Time (LS):The latest time an activity can start without delaying the project.
It is determined by subtracting the activity's duration from its latest finish time (LS = LF
- Duration).

● Latest Finish Time (LF):The latest time an activity can finish without delaying the
project. It is calculated based on the project's required end date and the latest start times
of its successor activities.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
Float (or Slack):The amount of time an activity can be delayed without
affecting the project completion date. It is calculated as the difference between
the earliest and latest start times (or finish times) of an activity.
Network Diagram:A visual representation of the project activities and their
dependencies. It helps in identifying the critical path and managing the project
schedule effectively.
Forward Pass:A technique used to calculate the earliest start and finish times
for each activity by moving forward through the network diagram from the
start to the finish.
Backward Pass:A technique used to calculate the latest start and finish times
for each activity by moving backward through the network diagram from the
finish to the start.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
Steps to Perform CPM Analysis:
List Activities: Identify all activities required to complete the project.
Determine Dependencies: Define the sequence of activities and their dependencies.
Estimate Durations: Assign duration estimates to each activity.
Create Network Diagram: Draw the network diagram based on activities and
dependencies.
Perform Forward Pass: Calculate the earliest start and finish times.
Perform Backward Pass: Calculate the latest start and finish times.
Identify the Critical Path: Highlight the longest path through the network diagram.
Calculate Float: Determine the float for each activity to understand scheduling
flexibility.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
Total Float: Total float is the amount of time that a task can be delayed without delaying the project's
completion date. It is the difference between the latest possible start time and the earliest possible start
time, or the latest possible finish time and the earliest possible finish time.
Total Float=LS−ES
Total Float=LF−EF
Free Float: Free float is the amount of time that a task can be delayed without delaying the earliest
start time of any subsequent task. It focuses on the impact of a delay on the immediate next tasks
rather than the entire project.

Formula:

● Free Float=ES (next task) − EF

● Where:
● ESnext task: Earliest Start time of the subsequent task
● EF: Earliest Finish time of the current task
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
● The following figure represents PMBOK nomenclature for activity
nodes in precedence diagram method.
●
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule Network Diagramming
Techniques
Critical Path Method Example With Solution

To understand the critical path analysis calculation steps consider the following schedule network
diagram.
 Critical Path Analysis Schedule

Critical Path Method Example With Solution

To understand the critical path analysis calculation steps consider the following schedule network
diagram.
Any questions?