LECTURE 8 – ACTIVITY on ARROW

(AoA)

Prepared by:
Sr Dr. SHAHELA MAMTER, CQS
Programme of Quantity Surveying
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying
UiTM Perak, Seri Iskandar Campus
32610 Bandar Baru Seri Iskandar
Perak Darul Ridzuan

DQS 360/QSA260
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Mohmad Mohd Derus, MSc. Proj. Mgt. (USM), GISM, Reg’d QS
(CPM)
 Typical Activity on Arrow Network
(Critical Path Analysis -CPM)

5 35 21 51 46 76
E J
2 6 9
16 25
K
A 18
0 0 5 12 26 18 48 65 65 94 94
D F I L
1 4 7 8 10
6 17 29
12
B 6
12 G
C H
3 5
32 27
6 6 38 38
Critical path
Definition of Activity on Arrow
(CPM)
 A graphical representation of a planned programme
by a logical network or arrow diagram.
 Activities are represented by a series of arrow which
start and ended on a node that collectively forms a
network.
 Tail of an arrow represents the start of an activity and
the head of an arrow represents the completion of an
activity.
 Arrow length does not represent the duration of an
activity – instead duration is written on the arrow.
Anatomy of Activity on Arrow
activity

activity activity Foundation 3

starts ends 10 days

duration
Earthworks
1 2
20 days
fence 4
12 days
node/event event number
Construction of activity on arrow:
The steps
 Preparation of reference materials for planning:
 Tender document
 Specification
 Method statement
 Brainstorming team– craftsmen/sub-contractors involved.
 Plant & equipments information - owned/rental/leased.
 Labour information– domestic or sub-labour.
 List all major activities expected – e.g. site clearance, cut &
fill, excavations, etc.
 Determine the duration for each activity listed.
Construction of activity on arrow:
The steps
 Draw a network to precisely the sequence of operation to be
carried out.
 Each activity is represented by an arrow only.
 The arrow head must always facing ahead, no arrow head
should be facing backward.
 Start and finish time for each activity is represented by an
event(node).
 Every event must be numbered.
 Event number must be greater at the arrow’s head than the
event number at the arrow’s tail.
 Only one event is allowed at the end of the network.
Principles of constructing AoA:
normal relationship

A 2 B
1

Activity B can start after activity A has completed

Principles of constructing AoA:
normal relationship

A C

Activities B, C & D can start simultaneously after activity A is completed

Principles of constructing AoA:
normal relationship

A D

Activity D can starts after activities A,B & C are completed.

Principles of constructing AoA:
normal relationship

C D

A F

E
B

Activities A,B, & C can start simultaneously , but activities D, E & F can only
start after activities A, B & C are completed.
Principles of constructing AoA:
Parallel Activity
B

10

A C D

12 7

B Dummy

10
A C D

12 7
Principles of constructing AoA: Parallel
Activities With Common Constraints

Formwork A Concrete A
10 12
Dummy
Deliver ready-mix conc.

28

Formwork B Concrete B

14 12
Principles of constructing AoA: :
Looping Activities
A B
8 9 11 12
10 22 26

10

An impossible loop
Principles of constructing AoA: :
An Unintentional Dangle
A B D
8 9 11 12
10 22 26
C
10

Dangle is not
allowed
Principles of constructing AoA: :
An Unintentional Dangle
A B D
8 9 11 12
10 22 26

10

√
Principles of constructing AoA:
Cartwheel Activities
Fabricate
formwork Erect formwork
8 10 11
10 22

Excavate formation Trim & Roll

9 12
11
10

Fabricate formwork Erect formwork

8 10 13
22

√
10

Excavate formation Trim & Roll

9 11 12
11
10
 Principles of constructing AoA: :
A false waterfall
Excavate part 3 Excavate part 4
8 11
10 22

Shutter part 2 Shutter part 3

9 12
10 11

Concrete part 1 Concrete part 2

10 13
10 22
 Principles of constructing AoA :
Correct form of false waterfall
Excavate part 3 Excavate part 4
8 11
10 22

Shutter part 2 Shutter part 3

9 12 14
10 11

Concrete part 1 Concrete part 2

10 13
10 22

To Maintain correct logic √

Practical suggestions for constructing
an AOA
 Draw the arrow from left to right side of the paper.
 To save space , activities can be drawn diagonally.
 When determining the sequence of logic of activities , ask
yourself three questions below:
 Which activity must be completed first before the next operation
can be started?
 Which other activities that can start concurrently with a particular
operations?
 Which activities that can start right away after a particular
operation is completed?
Principles of constructing AoA : Cross
line Activities
G L N
5 10 13 14
10 22

H K
6 8
11 22

10
I J
7 11
10 15
12
 Calculation of earliest time start
Calculation of latest time start
Calculation of earliest time finish
Calculation of latest time finish
Determination of critical activity
Calculations of floats
Calculation of earliest time
start/finish.
 Starting at the first event, add every duration
consecutively in order to the obtain the earliest time
start of each activity in the network.
Earliest time finish A
Earliest time start A Earliest time start B

0 20 30

A B 3
1 2
20 days 10 days
A: 0 day + 20 days = 20 days B: 20 days + 10 days = 30 days.
Calculation of earliest time start: alternative
routes to an event. Choose the
activity that
12 F: 12+12=24 gives the
F longest
Dummy: 13+0=13
earliest time
12 H: 12+20=32 start, i.e. H=32

13 32
45
Dummy I

13
H

20 Direction of
12
G calculation

D
Calculation of latest time
start/finish.
 Start at the last event, latest time finish is subtracted
consecutively to obtain the latest time finish for each
activity in the network.

Latest time start A Latest time finish A Latest time start B

0 0 20 20 30 30

A B 3
1 2
20 days 10 days

A: 20 days- 20 days= 0 day, B: 30 days- 10 days= 20 days

 Calculation of latest time start/finish:
Alternative routes an event .
40 55
G

15
25 33
13 21 25 39
F Dummy

12

Choose the
activity that 38 46
G: 55-15=40 gives the I
Dummy: 39- 0=39 shortest latest
I: 46-13=33 time finish, i.e.
13
I=33 Direction of
calculation
Determining Critical Activities
 An activity is critical if float is not available i.e. zero.
 Delay to activities on the critical path will result in a
delay to the whole project completion date.
 Critical path is the alignment of critical activities, and
are distinguished by thick line in the network.
 3 conditions for an activity to be considered critical:
 Earliest time start & latest time start are equal.
 Earliest time finish & latest time finish are equal.
 The difference between latest time finish & earliest time
start is equal to the duration of the activity.
 Float
 The difference between the amount of
time available to accomplish an activity
and the time actually necessary.
 Floats are only available in non-critical
activities.
Types of float
 Total float – is the maximum amount of time which can be
taken up in an emergency without delaying the overall
completion date.
 Independent float – the amount of leeway (allowable
deviations) available when an activity begins at the latest
event time without delaying the start of any subsequent
activity.
 Free float – the amount of leeway available when an activity
begins at the earliest event time, again without affecting any
following activity.
 Interfering float – the overlap in time between the latest
finish time of an activity and the earliest start time of the
following activity (i.e. the slack of an event)
 Total Float Formulae

Total Float = Latest time finish (–) Earliest

time start (–) Duration.
Independent Float Formulae

Independent float = Earliest time finish (–)

Latest time start
(–) Duration.
 Free Float Formulae

Free float = Earliest time finish (–) Earliest

time start (–) Duration.
 Interfering Float Formulae
Interfering float (Slack Event) = Latest time
start* (–) Earliest time start*

*at a node (event) of an activity.

 Example of AoA Constructions & Float
Calculations.

5 35 21 51 46 76
E J
2 6 9
16 25
K
A 18
0 0 5 12 26 18 48 65 65 94 94
D F I L
1 4 7 8 10
6 17 29
12
B 6
12 G
C H
3 5
32 27
6 6 38 38
Critical Path
 Float Calculation Table
Activity Duration Start Finish Total
Remarks
Ref. (week) Earliest Latest Earliest Latest Float
A 5 0 0 5 35 30
B 6 0 0 6 6 0 critical
C 32 6 6 38 38 0 critical
D 12 0 0 12 26 14
E 16 5 35 21 51 30
F 6 12 26 18 48 30
G 12 12 26 38 38 14
H 27 38 38 65 65 0 critical
I 17 18 48 65 65 30
47
J 25 21 51 46 76 30
K 18 46 76 94 94 30
L 29 65 65 94 94 0 critical
Summative assessment
Activity Ref. Duration (week) Dependency

A 7 -
B 8 A
C 22 A
D 11 B

1. Based on the foregoing schedule, draw an activity on arrow

diagram
2. Determine the completion date of the project
 Class Exercise 2
Activity Ref. Duration (week) Dependency

A 5 -
B 10 A
C 15 A
D 14 C
E 5 A
F 10 B
G 18 C,E,F
 Class Exercise 3
Activity Ref. Duration (week) Dependency

A 6 -
B 6 -
C 8 B
D 22 B
E 31 A,B
F 5 D, E
G 8 C
Class Exercise
1. Based on the foregoing schedule, draw an activity on
arrow diagram.
2. Determine the earliest time start and the earliest time
finish for each activity.
3. Determine the latest time start and the latest time finish
for each activity.
4. Identify and distinguish the activities on the critical
path.
5. Determine the completion date of the project.
6. Calculate the Total Float available for the non-critical
activities.
7. What is the impact on the present completion time, if
the activity D is delayed 10 weeks from its planned
duration?
 ASSIGNMENT
Please submit your answer in i-Discuss.
Happy Learning
 Warehouse project.
Activity Ref. Activity Duration (week) Dependency

A Preliminaries 6 -
B Deliver steel 22 A
C Site clearance 8 A
D Excavate foundations 12 B
E Concrete foundations 10 C
F Erect steel structure 20 D, C
G Lay hardcore 11 C
H Concrete floor slabs 6 E, G
I Install wall 15 F
J Access road 16 E

K Building services 5 H, I, J
Tasks
1. Based on the foregoing schedule, draw an activity on arrow
diagram.
2. Determine the earliest time start and the earliest time finish
for each activity.
3. Determine the latest time start and the latest time finish for
each activity.
4. Identify and distinguish the activities on the critical path.
5. Determine the completion date of the project.
6. Calculate the Total Float available for the non-critical
activities.
7. What is the impact on the present completion date, if the
activity concrete floor slab is delayed 16 weeks from its
planned duration?