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Scheduling Techniques in Projects

Lecture-5 Line of Balance Method

Dr. J. Uma Maheswari

Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
umapaul@civil.iitd.ac.in
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Lecture-5 Line of Balance Method

 Repetitive projects

 LoB – Critical Path

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Linear projects
 Linear projects are projects involving repetitive
activities
– Vertically linear (typical floors in a building)
– Horizontally linear (highway, pipeline, etc.)
 Several names available
– Construction Planning Technique (CPT)
– Vertical Production Method (VPM)
– Time- Location Matrix Model
– Time Space Scheduling Method
– Time Versus Distance Diagrams
– Linear Balance Charts
– Velocity Diagrams or
– Linear Scheduling Method (LSM)
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LoB
 History
 It is widely used in the construction industry for the
execution of repetitive projects such as mass
housing, high-rise buildings, tunnels, highways, etc.
 LOB representation
4

3
Units

2 F

1
0 5 10 15 20 25
Days
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Case Example 1
No Activity Activity ID Duration IPA
(days)
2 Brickwork –T1 B1 90
3 Joinery Works – T1 J1 75 2FS
4 Flooring Works – T1 F1 90 3FS
5 Painting Works – T1 P1 80 4FS
6 Brickwork –T2 B2 90 2FS
7 Joinery Works – T2 J2 75 3FS, 6FS
8 Flooring Works – T2 F2 90 4FS, 7FS
9 Painting Works – T2 P2 80 8FS, 5FS
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CPM vs. PDM vs. LoB

B1 J1 F1 P1
90 75 90 80
CPM

B2 J2 F2 P2
90 75 90 80

LOB
90
B J
180 150
75

PDM
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Assumptions in LoB
 The logical CPM/PDM network of each unit
is maintained
 Crews’ work continuity is retained

Single parallel staggered Typical vs. Non-typical

CREW CONTINUITY
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LOB – Buffer
4

3 A
B
C
Units

E
F
2 G
H
I

1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Days
 Example 1 Interior of 4 class rooms
Activity Description Dur Dur IPA
ID (hrs) (day)
A Floor level marking 4 0.5 -
B Fixtures for roof panels and AC ducts 8 1 A
C Internal wiring 16 2 B
D Pipe laying for sprinklers 8 1 B
E Fixing roof panels 24 3 C, D
F Fixing wall panels 24 3 E
G Flooring 24 3 F
H Painting and finishing 16 2 G
I Electrical fixtures 8 1 H

 Duration for each activity – single crew

 Buffer – 0.5 days between each activities
 PDM Network for one unit

2.5 C 4.5
2.5 2 4.5
0.5 0.5

0 A 0.5 1 B 2 5 E 8 8.5 F 11.5

0 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 1 2 5 3 8 0.5 8.5 3 11.5
0.5 0.5
2.5 D 3.5
3.5 1 4.5

0.5
12 G 15 15.5 H 17.5 18 I 19
12 3 15 0.5 15.5 2 17.5 0.5 18 1 19
 Schedule for four rooms (n =4)
Dur Buffer Time for Scheduled start date
ID IPA (days) Type Dur (n-1) units 1st unit 4th unit
A - 0.5 - 1.5 0 0 + 1.5 = 1.5
B A 1 Start 0.5 3 0 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 1 1 + 3 = 4
C B 2 Start 0.5 6 1 + 1 + 0.5 = 2.5 2.5 + 6 = 8.5
D B 1 Start 0.5 3 1 + 1 + 0.5 = 2.5 2.5 + 3 = 5.5
E C, D 3 Start 0.5 9 2.5 + 2 + 0.5 = 5 5 + 9 = 14
F E 3 Start 0.5 9 5 + 3 + 0.5 = 8.5 8.5 + 9 = 17.5
G F 3 Start 0.5 9 8.5 + 3 + 0.5 = 12 12 + 9 = 21
H G 2 End 0.5 6 24.5 - 6 = 18.5 21 + 3 + 0.5 = 24.5
I H 1 End 0.5 3 27 - 3 = 24 24.5 + 2 + 0.5 = 27
Total duration = 27 +1 = 28 days
 Start date
ID dur 1st unit 4th unit
LoB Diagram (only critical) A 0.5 0 1.5
B 1 1 4
C 2 2.5 8.5
D 1 2.5 5.5
E 3 5 14
F 3 8.5 17.5
4
G 3 12 21
H 2 18.5 24.5
I 1 24 27
3 A
B
Units

C
2 E
F
G
1
H
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
I
Days
 LoB Diagram (all activities)
4

3
B
C
Units

E
F
2 G
H
I
D
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Days
LoB Diagram (all activities)
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Unit-based and Non-unit based

 Most repetitive scheduling methods
available so far are assumed of identical
sub-units in the identified units of repetition.
– Unit-based repetitive projects
– Non-unit-based repetitive projects
TYPICAL CROSS SECTIONS

Existing
carriageway

Left side widening

Right side widening Existed
central line

Proposed
central line

Concentric widening New

carriageway
Left side widening with
service road
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Different capacity lecture rooms

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Different capacity lecture rooms

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Different capacity lecture rooms