CN-326 CONSTRUCTION

PLANNING, SCHEDULING AND

CONTROL
Fall 2016
Chapter 2: Bar Chart Schedules

Definition
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 1917 and
is alternatively called a Gantt chart.
Difference Bar Chart VS Gantt Chart

Description
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.
No absolutely correct or incorrect way to break down a project exists;
however, the scheduler should take a balanced approach and break it
down into a reasonable number of activities that are easily measured
and controlled without being overly detailed.

Description
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, or
anywhere in between.
The duration of each activity must be estimated. Bars are then drawn
to show, for each activity, the duration and the starting and ending
points

Description
On a bar chart, the bar may not indicate continuous work 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. Non-continuous (dashed)
bars are sometimes used to distinguish between real work (solid line)
and inactive periods (gaps between solid lines)

Description
Bar charts have become a vehicle for representing many pieces of a
projects information.
Many variations of bar charts have evolved; some simply show the
start and end of each activity (Figures 1 and 2),

Figure 1:
Bar chart for placing a simple slab on a grade

Figure 2:
Alternative bar chart for placing a simple slab on a
grade placed in two parts

Description
Some are loaded with resource or budget numbers (Figure 4 and
Figure 5), and others compare the as-planned schedule with the asbuilt schedule (Figure 6).

Figure 4:
Bar chartloaded with man-hours
for construction of a two-story building

Figure 5:
Bar chartloaded with the budget
for construction of a two-story building

Figure 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.

Description
Using Primavera Project Manager (P6) software (Recently acquired by
Oracle), we can show activities with interruptions as continuous bars
or as necked bars (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Bar chart for placing a simple slab on a grade,

with activities necked during non-work periods

ADVANTAGES OF BAR CHARTS

Bar charts have gained wide acceptance and popularity mainly because of
their simplicity and ease of preparation and understanding.
No theory or complicated calculations are involved. Anyone can
understand them.
They can be prepared anywhere with just a pencil and paper.
So, although bar charts can carryor be loaded withother information,
the user must be careful not to overload them and, thus, eliminate their
main advantage: simplicity.
Unlike networks, bar charts are time-scaled; that is, the length of a bar
representing certain activity is proportional to the duration of that activity.
Just by looking at the chart one can get an idea on the duration of each
activity.

ADVANTAGES OF BAR CHARTS

Another advantage is that bar charts particularly appeal to persons
who do not have a technical background.
For example, some clients and upper-level managers may better
understand the plan for carrying out a construction project by looking
at a bar chart than by looking at a schematic of a logic network.
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.

DISADVANTAGES OF BAR CHARTS

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.
It could be a logical relationship, a resource constraint, or a subjective
decision by the project manager.
Although some software programmers tried to depict logical relationships
on bar charts, the result was not always clear.
The logic lines would get tangled, and unlike networks, bar charts do not
allow the length of the bars to be subjectively changed or the bars to be
moved around to make the chart look or read better.

DISADVANTAGES OF 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
activitiesunless 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; a full definition and discussion follows in chapter 4) only,
for activities in a certain section of the project, or for activities under a certain
subcontractor.
2. You show summary bars (each bar represents a group of activities combined on
the basis of a certain criterion such as department, major component, or
responsibility). This can be done during the early planning phase, when details are
not available (see, for example, Figure 7), and when you are reporting the
information to high-level management.

Figure 7: Bar chart representing the summary activities for

constructing a bridge

Exercise
You are running out of space in your house, so you have decided to
transform your two-car garage into a family room.
In addition, you will build a simple carport in your driveway. Make a
bar chart for this project, breaking your project into 10 to 15 work
activities.

A carport is a covered structure used to offer limited

protection to vehicles, primarily cars, from the
elements. The structure can either be free standing or
attached to a wall. Unlike most structures a carport
does not have four walls, and usually has one or two.

Exercise
Draw the following bar chart
Each succeeding activity will begin after the preceding activity is
complete.
Activity A
2 weeks
Activity B
4 weeks
Activity C
6 weeks
Activity D
8 Weeks
What is total duration of the project?

Exercise
Draw the following bar chart
Each succeeding activity will begin after one week of the start of the
preceding activity.
Activity A
2 weeks
Activity B
4 weeks
Activity C
6 weeks
Activity D
8 Weeks
What is total duration of the project?

Assignment
Prepare a bar chart for building an in ground swimming pool.
If you do not know the steps involved, ask a friend or a local
contractor.

QUIZ
You are given the task of changing the worn-out carpet in your office.
Draw a bar chart showing all activities involved (including removing
and reinstalling baseboards; removing and disposing of old carpet and
the pad; selecting, purchasing, and delivering new carpet and a new
pad; cleaning up before and after installing the new carpet; and any
other relevant activity).