Project Control: Developing

the As-Planned S-Curves

Part #2
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Purpose
• Illustrate how to develop a set of As-
Planned S-Curves from scheduling
information and estimates developed
sometime before actual construction
operations begin.
• Review the conceptual design estimating
process to the extent necessary to set the
context.
Learning Objectives
• Be able to construct an as-planned schedule
of work and cost versus elapsed time from a
typical (but simplified) construction project
Gantt Chart.

• Be able to plot and identify the as Planned

S-Curves best representing these schedules.
Who Develops the As Planned
Gantt Chart? And When?
• It depends upon what part of the process is
in question.
• We are going to assume that the Gantt Chart
is developed by the Contractor to plan
construction operations.
• We are going to assume that the schedule
data are generated sometime before the
onset of actual field operations.
Example Construction Project
• The project is to reconstruct 2-miles of park
access road conforming to Texas FM-Road
standards. This involves the following tasks:
1. Mobilization – Equipment, office set up, etc.
2. Sub-base preparation – hauling, grading and
compaction, redo of some culverts, etc.
3. Base course construction – hauling, grading and
compaction.
4. Wearing Course construction – shoot and chip
5. Demobilization – Clean up, equipment, office, etc.
Class Discussion Exercise #2.1
on Construction Methods.
Ask Selected Individuals or Pairs to answer the
following:
• What is Base Material and what is its purpose
in the design of the road?
• How is the Base built?
• What is “shoot and chip?”
• What is Pea Gravel?
• What is the design profile of a FM Road?
 Project Task Duration and
Cost Data

Assume:
• All labor, material and equipment cost estimates are
available from the estimating process.
• Maximum Task overlap with a 1-day minimum delay on
an early start schedule.
Assumed Estimating Process
• The entire project is broken into Work Packages (work
breakdown structure): build base, shoot and chip, etc.
• Estimated unit quantities for each work package are calculated
from the plans and specifications at an appropriate level of
detail.
• The corresponding unit prices and productivity rates are obtained
from historical data – We will use the R. S. Means manual in this
class.
• Work Package (or Task or Activity) durations and costs are
derived from the historical data as applied to the estimates.
• These data serve as inputs to the scheduling process which
result in Bar-Charts similar to the one on the next slide.
Class Exercise 2.2
• As individuals describe the crew
(equipment and personnel) configuration
necessary to construct the base course.
• As Pairs agree upon the configuration.
• As a Team, estimate the hourly cost rate.
 Example Gantt Chart with
Related S-Curve % Data

Simplifying assumptions: All work is equally weighted where 1 day equals 1 unit of
work. Daily work accomplished is NOT a function of daily cost.
Class Exercise #2.3
• As Individuals, compute the number of
cubic yards of base material required to
build 2-miles of FM Road base, 24-feet
wide, and 1-foot thick?
• As Pairs, compare answers and then
compute the linear feet of daily
progress, if you can build 2,700 sq-yds
of base per day?
What Does all
this Imply?
The relationship between
time and cost and time
and work.

For example, at the end of

day 8 you plan to have
completed 50% of the
Work and to have spent
47% of the Budget.
 Corresponding As-Planned
S-Curves
Note: The
relationship
between the
scales. There
is a reason –
to make
room for the
As-Built
S-Curves
Exercise #2.4

• Individually, using
engineering paper,
plot the S-Curves for
these data, label the
axes, the curves, and
the plot.
• Turn in your work
before you leave.
Module Assessment Question
• If you had to ask a question about this
topic, what would it be?