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 cant 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 sixmonth 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

S.N.

Activities/Works

Time required
(Days)

Document preparation for tendering of

Detail survey and design works

Call for tender

10

Evaluation of tender and selection of consultant

Mobilization of study team

Detail Engineering Survey

Gological/Goetechnical Investigation

14

Hydrological Study

Design and detailing

35

Submission and approval of report

Total no of days -93

Bar Chart for Detail Engineering Survey and Design of Bridge

S.N
.

Duration / Time
Activities/Works

Mangsir 2069
1

Document preparation for tender

Detail survey and design works

Call for tender

Evaluation of tender and selection

of consultant

Mobilization of study team

Detail Engineering Survey

Gological/Goetechnical
Investigation

Hydrological Study

Design and detailing

Submission and approval of report

Paush 2069

Falgun 2069
4

3 days
10 days
4 days
3 days
8 days

Completion of
study for design
14 days
Draft report
submission

5 days

Approval of
report

35 days
9 days

Project completion period 79 days

Example 2

S.N.

Prepare bar schedule and resource aggregation chart for the activities
involved in the construction of the two well foundations by using Bar Chart

Activities/Works

Days required
to complete
Labour
the work

Human Resources
Mason

Carpenter

Bar
bender

Welder

Diversion of stream

Construction of platform of well

Fabrication and placement of well curb

Form works of well up to 3 m height

Bar cutting and bending

Reinforcement layout in well

Concreting of well steining up to 3m ht.

Dredging and sinking of well

Concreting of lower plug

10

Filling of granular materials

11

Concreting of upper plug

12

Placement of reinforcement for well cap

13

Form works for well cap

14

Concreting of well cap

Bar Chart of Well Construction

Well at right bank

Well at left bank

S.N.

Activities/Works

Diversion of stream

Construction of platform of
well

Fabrication and placement of

well curb

Form works of well up to 3 m

height

Bar cutting and bending up to

3 m height

Reinforcement layout in well

up to 3 m height

Concreting of well steining up

to 3m height

Dredging and sinking of well

up to 3m height

Concreting of lower plug

10

Filling of granular materials

11

Concreting of upper plug

12

Placement of reinforcement
for well cap

13

Form works for well cap

14

Concreting of well cap

Duration (Days)
1

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Human Resources Aggregation Chart/Table

S.N.

Activities/Works

Diversion of stream

Construction of platform of
well

Fabrication and placement of

well curb

Form works of well up to 3 m

height

Bar cutting and bending up to

3 m height

Reinforcement layout in well

up to 3 m height

Concreting of well steining up

to 3m height

Dredging and sinking of well

up to 3m height

Labour
Mason
Carpenter

Duration (Days)
1

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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
1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1

Bar bender

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Welder

1 1 1 1

2
1 1 1 1
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 projects 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
Proceeded
by

Followed
by

Days require
for the
activity

A Drive piles

20

B Erect forms for caps 1 and 2

C,E

C Place reinforcement for caps 1 and 2

D,F

D Place concrete for caps 1 and 2

E Erect forms for caps 3 and 4

F,H

F Place reinforcement for caps 3 and 4

C,E

G,I

G Place concrete for caps 3 and 4

D,F

I Place reinforcement for caps 5 and 6

F,H

J Place concrete for caps 5 and 6

G,I

Activity

H Erect forms for caps 5 and 6

Network diagram

4 days

20 days

2 days

4 days

4 days

C
2 days

2 days

2 days D
2 days

Path ABCDGJ = 32 days

Path ABEFGJ = 34 days
Path ABEHIJ = 36 days

2 days

10

Critical path is 1-2-3-5-6-7-9-10-11

11