Computer aided construction delay analysis and claims preparation

Delays are the most common and costly problem encountered on construction projects. Analysing construction delays has become an integral part of the project’s construction life. To prepare for litigation, schedule documentation proving responsibility must be prepared. With present methods of tracking projects, the preparation of such schedules can be time consuming and costly. The analysis itself is usually complex and can be aided by a computerized approach. This paper describes the introduction of a computer system for delays claim analysis called computerized delay claims analysis (CDCA). The system utilizes the isolated delay type (IDT) technique. Part of this system can use existing software such as project management, cost control, database management and spreadsheets. In addition to these, an expert system tailored to the specific expertise of construction claims has been used to facilitate the decision making process. CDCA is tested against a real case study of a building project to demonstrate its effectiveness in determining the responsibility of contracting parties with respect to the project’s delays. The system is expected to assist in improving the process of delays analysis, thus reducing the cost of claims preparation.