Effective Progress Scheduling and Control for Construction Projects

Abstract

Guidelines for progress scheduling and control of department‐of‐transportation (DOT) construction projects are presented. The guidelines are based on best current practices and management techniques and are modified to reflect their on‐site implementation and the practical aspects of daily field records. General guidelines are outlined and discussed in the following areas: (1) Progress scheduling (including the use of bar charts); (2) monitoring of progress (S‐curves); (3) capturing of productivity rates and their utilization; (4) the feedback process; (5) settlement of claims and disputes through documentation; and (6) computer utilization and applications. The acquisition of pertinent details, the analysis of that data, and the utilization of it to effectively manage current and future projects are the results of the implementation of these guidelines. While the guidelines provide a framework for DOT and their most frequent types of construction, flexibility within the guidelines allows for expansion of construction project size and type and allows for increasing levels of application that comes with continued use.