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Phased vs. Sequential Construction Timing

The document discusses whether phasing construction projects saves time compared to the traditional sequential approach. It provides expressions to calculate the project completion time for both approaches. While phasing appears to save time by allowing some activities to overlap, several factors could impact the actual time savings. The duration of bidding, construction, and the lag between design and construction are variable and difficult to predict precisely, so any apparent time savings from phasing may not be realized in practice. The major determinant of the length of design-construction lag is securing the necessary construction permits before above-ground work can begin.

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52 views6 pages

Phased vs. Sequential Construction Timing

The document discusses whether phasing construction projects saves time compared to the traditional sequential approach. It provides expressions to calculate the project completion time for both approaches. While phasing appears to save time by allowing some activities to overlap, several factors could impact the actual time savings. The duration of bidding, construction, and the lag between design and construction are variable and difficult to predict precisely, so any apparent time savings from phasing may not be realized in practice. The major determinant of the length of design-construction lag is securing the necessary construction permits before above-ground work can begin.

Uploaded by

tia
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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5b - Time Saving… Is it real??

CIVE 421
Construction Management

Professor M. Asem Abdul-Malak


Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
American University of Beirut
Phasing: Does it Work?…
Consider the two delivery approaches below:
Sequential approach
P D B C O

Phased approach
D-C O
D 1 2 3

B
C

D-C Lag D-C Overlap Time Saved


Prof. M . Asem Abdul-M alak
Relevant Expressions…

D + B + C = PCDs
(D-C lag) + C = PCDp
D – (D-C Overlap) + C = PCDp
Time Saved = PCDs – PCDp = B + (D-C Overlap)

Prof. M . Asem Abdul-M alak


Bidding Phase

Does the duration of the bidding phase disappear


completely?
Of course, the bidding phase does not literally disappear. However,
one may be misled by the idea that the bidding phase will be
completely enveloped by (i.e., running in parallel with) the D-C
duration, thereby mistakenly hinting to it not being a factor
governing this overall D-C duration. The reality is that a possibility
exists for the last round of bidding (or even any of the earlier
rounds) to happen to be of such duration (or to be pushed forward
due to design-related delays) that it may eventually extend the D-C
duration beyond what the diagram shows (examine and test this
possibility with the third package in “red”).

Prof. M . Asem Abdul-M alak


Construction Duration
Does the duration of construction remain
unchanged?
There is no guarantee that the time required to construct will be expected to
be the same as that taken by the general contractor under the traditional
approach. It might be longer or shorter, and – actually – one will never be
able to tell – by actual records – since it will not be practical, nor will it be
possible to execute the same project twice and at the same time, once under
each of the delivery approaches in question; the reasons being that, among
many others, there is only one site (the land parcel) and one cannot
duplicate the human element and the construction setup, except virtually.
Having said that, the key to this question has to do with the level of
coordination and control the CM can exercise on “trade contractors” (with
whom the CM has NO contracts) as compared to the level of control the
same CM, but now acting as a general contractor, can exercise over “sub-
contractors” (with whom he, as a GC, has contracts) .
Prof. M . Asem Abdul-M alak
D-C Lag Determinant

What is the major determinant of the length of the


“D-C Lag”?

There are many determinants of the length of the D-C Lag. However, the
MAJOR determinant is “having to secure the construction permit before any
building construction package is allowed to proceed above ground level”.
That is, by backward analysis, one shall determine how soon concrete
construction may be launched such that by the time these works have
progressed up to the ground (surface) level (under the assumptions that
there will be some construction to be done below ground, including
foundation works), the construction permit will have been issued by the
concerned authorities.

Prof. M . Asem Abdul-M alak

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