Monitoring progress

As the project progresses, a planned critical path network can be updated to reflect the progress achieved. When carrying out a progress update using critical path analysis the software will utilise the applied logic to calculate activity timings and a projected sequence for the remaining works. For each activity against which progress is updated the software can recalculate the remaining duration, which will represent the estimated duration of works left to be done. (An activity identified as 50% complete, with an original duration of 10 days, will be shown to have a remaining duration of 5 days.) This effectively produces a planned programme through to completion based on the progress achieved to date.

If the actual progress achieved is different to that planned, activity timings will be reset. This will result in the earliest completion of the project being re-calculated and any predicted changes will be identified.

It should however be noted that when a programme is rescheduled due to the deterministic nature of critical path analysis the results require some consideration and it may be necessary to amend the logic to produce a more reasonable result.

There can also be problems when physically trying to assess the progress achieved. The evaluation of progress made against the activities of brickwork and blockwork will be relatively straightforward based on a measured quantity. Assessment of the progress of an activity such as first fix services may prove a little more difficult.

Services installations theoretically could also be measured in a detailed manner but this may well prove difficult and time consuming. In practice the progress measure is more likely to be based on a more broad overall assessment which generally provides sufficient accuracy for project management purposes.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

A strategy paper for the Government Construction Client Group prepared by the BIM Industry Working Group in 2011 describes BIM as ‘a managed approach to the collection and exploitation of information across a project’.

BIM can be described as a managed 3D model of the project asset which may be a specific building or infrastructure and could represent either a new or existing asset (i.e new build or refurbishment or upgrade). Rather than being a simple 3D graphic the model is infused with data which can be drawn upon by all parties throughout the whole life cycle of the project. BIM is therefore a collaborative tool.

The UK government envisages BIM being introduced progressively over a 5 year period following the strategy paper of 2011 and aims to make BIM mandatory on virtually all government projects by 2016.

Designers will be able to use BIM to explore alternative design concepts and value engineering exercises resulting in optimisation of design.

Contractors will be able to use BIM to ‘rehearse’ construction sequencing and logistics and investigate various ‘what if’ scenarios. Preparation of health and safety plans and method statements as well as the preparation of shop and fabrication drawing will all benefit with access to the model and associated data.

Employers and owners of the assets will be able to utilise the model to optimise the use of space, plan for maintenance and optimise energy efficiency.

Multi-disciplinary practice, Mott Macdonald on their website consider 10 BIM benefits:

1. better outcomes through collaboration;
2. enhanced performance;
3. optimised solutions;
4. greater predictability;
5. faster project delivery;
6. reduced safety risk;
7. fits first time;
8. reduced waste;
9. whole life asset management; and
10. continual improvement.

BIM has been heralded by some as being collaboration between all parties in ways that the construction industry has never known before.

The advent and introduction of BIM will undoubtedly produce great advantages in respect of the planning and programming of the works.

Contractors will be able to plan and construct the project using the virtual model which will allow the assessment of differing sequences and ‘what if’ scenarios to be evaluated. Temporary works design can be modelled and optimised and fully evaluated in respect of their integration with the on-going construction and permanent works.

Site logistics, access, potential construction and health and safety risks can also be modelled and assessed with risks minimised.

Actual achieved progress can be introduced into the model providing ‘real time’ evaluation of the status of the project and the identification of the critical path. Using this progress data the model can be used to evalauate re-sequencing measures to optimise the works through to completion and to mitigate any delay that may have occurred and identify future likely areas of delay.

The impact of variations can be modelled and assessed thus allowing a full understanding by all of the potential consequences in respect of cost and time.

The introduction of progress will effectively produce an as-built model demonstrating how the project was actually constructed, which is likely to prove invaluable in the case of after the event time related disputes.