Float types in linear schedule analysis with singularity functions

Lucko, G and Pea Orozco, A A (2009) Float types in linear schedule analysis with singularity functions. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 135(5), pp. 368-377. ISSN 0733-9364

Abstract

This paper describes how float can be calculated exactly for linear schedules by using singularity functions. These functions originate in structural engineering and are newly applied to scheduling. They capture the behavior of an activity or buffer and the range over which it applies and are extensible to an infinite number of change terms. This paper builds upon the critical path analysis for linear schedules, which takes differences between singularity functions and differentiates them. It makes several important case distinctions that extend the earlier concept of rate float. Time and location buffers act along different axis directions. Together with different productivities between and within activities, this can create a complex pattern of critical and noncritical segments. Depending on starts and finishes, areas of float precede or follow these noncritical segments. The schedule of a small project is reanalyzed with case distinctions to demonstrate in detail what float types are generated.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: critical path method; linear analysis; location; network analysis; scheduling; time dependence; two-dimensional analysis
Index terms: critical path method, finishes, scheduling, small project, critical path analysis, buffer, productivity, network analysis
Subjects: management, production management, financial risk, operations research, building materials, data analysis and analytics
Topics: Design Practice, Time Control, Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, Cost Management
Descriptive scope: 3 PCA

N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here