Work Scheduling

In
Bridge Construction
 Work Scheduling
• Work scheduling is a tool of planning of project, which decide
in advance about what to do and when to do considering how
to do and who is to do .
• It is a time phased plan for performing the work necessary to
complete the project
• It is a graphical representation of plan which shows the
starting and completion dates of each activity and the
sequential relationship among the various activities
• It
– Predicts project completion time and activity completion time
– Controls financing and payment
– Serves as a record
– Helps to plan resources required for construction
– Supports to cash management
 Scheduling Tools
Different Scheduling Tools

• Bar Chart /Gantt Chart

• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Program Evaluation and Review Techniques (PERT)

Bar charts are mostly used in work scheduling

of simple small and medium span bridges and
CPM is mostly used in complex medium and
large span bridges in Nepal
 Bar Chart
Graphical representation of various activities/works with their
starting and completion time and duration.
In bar chart, activities/works are represented by horizontal
bars and the length of bar indicates the time/duration
required for accomplishment of that particular activity/work
Bar chart may be linked bar chart or milestones chart

Linked bar chart

Modified bar chart in which links between succeeding and
preceding activities are shown. Links helps to show the
effects of delay if any in the activities and helps to calculate
float or extra time available for the activities.

Milestone chart
Improved bar chart in which important events are shown
 Steps for preparing Bar Chart
1. Break down the whole project in to various activities or sub activities
Identify different works within the activities

2. Estimate the time/duration required for each work.

For each work, estimate how long it will take to do that work.
The time required for execution of a work depends on the method of execution,
volume of the work , nature of the work and the time available for completion of the
project.

3. Develop a logical and practical sequence of the works

One by one, put everything in order. Make a note of any dependencies, the situations
where you can’t do one thing until another is started or finished.
For example Until the laying out of reinforcing bars is completed concreting can not
be performed in a structural member.
Eliminate interdependencies of work as far as possible in planning
4. Chunk up the works/activities
After having the sequential order of works/activities with their time duration, reduce
the list without losing any specificity.
Division of time depends on the total period available for project. If it is only one year
long, you might list items by month. If your project is three years long, then you might
list items by quarter. If you are planning over five years, you might break it down to six-
month periods.

5. Draw bar chart

Draw bar chart by hand or by word-processing/spreadsheet or any software. Mark the
milestones and link lines if any in bar chart

Best scheduling can only be achieved when there

are
• Clearly defined activities
• Realistic duration
• Knowledge of construction techniques
• Knowledge of resources available
• Knowledge of construction procedures
 Example on Bar Chart Method of Scheduling
Example 1

Prepare a schedule for the activities involved in detail engineering survey and design
of a bridge using Bar Chart

Time required
S.N. Activities/Works
(Days)
Document preparation for tendering of
1 3
Detail survey and design works
2 Call for tender 10

3 Evaluation of tender and selection of consultant 4

4 Mobilization of study team 5

5 Detail Engineering Survey 8

6 Gological/Goetechnical Investigation 14

7 Hydrological Study 5
8 Design and detailing 35
9 Submission and approval of report 9

Total no of days -93

 Bar Chart for Detail Engineering Survey and Design of Bridge

Duration / Time
S.N
Activities/Works Mangsir 2069 Paush 2069 Falgun 2069
.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Document preparation for tender 3 days
1
Detail survey and design works
2 Call for tender 10 days

Evaluation of tender and selection 4 days

3
of consultant
4 Mobilization of study team 3 days
8 days Completion of
5 Detail Engineering Survey study for design

Gological/Goetechnical 14 days
6
Investigation
Draft report Approval of
7 Hydrological Study 5 days submission report

8 Design and detailing

35 days
9 Submission and approval of report
9 days
Project completion period 79 days
 Prepare bar schedule and resource aggregation chart for the activities
Example 2
involved in the construction of the two well foundations by using Bar Chart

Days required Human Resources

S.N. Activities/Works to complete
Bar
the work Labour Mason Carpenter Welder
bender
1 Diversion of stream 1 4 - - - -
2 Construction of platform of well 1 4 - - - -
3 Fabrication and placement of well curb 2 2 1 - - 1
4 Form works of well up to 3 m height 2 2 - 1 - -
5 Bar cutting and bending 2 1 - - 1 -
6 Reinforcement layout in well 2 2 - - 1 -
7 Concreting of well steining up to 3m ht. 1 4 2 - - -
8 Dredging and sinking of well 2 2 1 - - -
9 Concreting of lower plug 1 3 1 - - -
10 Filling of granular materials 2 4 1 - - -
11 Concreting of upper plug 1 3 1 - - -
12 Placement of reinforcement for well cap 2 2 - - 1 -
13 Form works for well cap 1 1 1 - -
14 Concreting of well cap 1 3 1 - - -
 Bar Chart of Well Construction Well at right bank
Well at left bank
Duration (Days)
S.N. Activities/Works
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 Diversion of stream

Construction of platform of
2
well
Fabrication and placement of
3
well curb
Form works of well up to 3 m
4
height
Bar cutting and bending up to
5
3 m height
Reinforcement layout in well
6
up to 3 m height
Concreting of well steining up
7
to 3m height
Dredging and sinking of well
8
up to 3m height
9 Concreting of lower plug

10 Filling of granular materials

11 Concreting of upper plug
Placement of reinforcement
12
for well cap
13 Form works for well cap
14 Concreting of well cap
 Human Resources Aggregation Chart/Table
Duration (Days)
S.N. Activities/Works
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 Diversion of stream

Construction of platform of
2
well
Fabrication and placement of
3
well curb
Form works of well up to 3 m
4
height
Bar cutting and bending up to
5
3 m height
Reinforcement layout in well
6
up to 3 m height
Concreting of well steining up
7
to 3m height
Dredging and sinking of well
8
up to 3m height

Labour 4 4 7 3 5 5 4 4 6 2 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 6 2 4
Mason 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
Carpenter 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Bar bender 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Welder 1 1 1 1
 Critical Path Method (CPM)
It is a logical representation of different activities and their
interrelationships in a diagrammatic form (Network Diagram).

Arrows and nodes are used in a network diagram and they

represent activities and events respectively. Activity is a task to
be performed, which takes time for completion. Event is an
important instance in a project’s life from where an activity starts
or where an activity ends.

Critical path is the longest path in a network diagram, which

takes maximum time among the alternative paths through which
a project will be completed.
Rules for preparing Network Diagram

• Initial event should be one in network diagram and should contain only
out going arrow.
• Until and unless all activities leading to an event are completed no
event is occurred.
• Until and unless the preceding events are completed no activity is
started.
• Network path shall not be turned back. Event should not be dependent
on the succeeding events.
• Before reaching the objective, every activity should be completed.
• Final event should be only one.
• Network should contain all constraints and interdependencies
• In network, time flows from left to right
• The length of an arrow in a network diagram does not represent time.
• Number given to a preceding event should be smaller than the number
given to the succeeding events.
Example on Critical Path Method of Scheduling
A bridge requires six intermediate piers consisting of concrete cap supported by steel
piles. All piles will be driven before any caps are started. Sequential information about
the activities of this project is given below. Draw network diagram

Days require
Proceeded Followed
Activity for the
by by
activity
A Drive piles - B 20
B Erect forms for caps 1 and 2 A C,E 4
C Place reinforcement for caps 1 and 2 B D,F 2
D Place concrete for caps 1 and 2 C G 2
E Erect forms for caps 3 and 4 B F,H 4
F Place reinforcement for caps 3 and 4 C,E G,I 2
G Place concrete for caps 3 and 4 D,F J 2
H Erect forms for caps 5 and 6 E I 4
I Place reinforcement for caps 5 and 6 F,H J 2
J Place concrete for caps 5 and 6 G,I - 2
Network diagram

20 days 4 days 4 days 4 days

A B E H
1 2 3 5 6

2 days C
2 days 2 days
F I
4 7 9

2 days D
2 days 2 days
G J
8 10 11

Path ABCDGJ = 32 days

Path ABEFGJ = 34 days
Path ABEHIJ = 36 days
Critical path is 1-2-3-5-6-7-9-10-11