7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

7435BEPG Production Management and BIM

“Development of a project report based on the critical evaluation of the roles of a

project manager in planning, scheduling and managing a construction project using
industry standard software Asta Powerproject BIM”.

The coursework component is an INDIVIDUAL submission.

The CW assignment is to complete a project report, which should address the

following module Learning Outcomes:

1. Plan, organise and manage more efficiently the construction processes using
industry standard software and effective coordination of information
modelling using Asta Powerproject BIM.
2. Critically analyse the roles of the project manager within the production
process and working in collaboration with other roles within the project.

Assignment Brief: A construction company called “C&W” has been awarded

recently a building project to develop within Merseyside, UK. The project manager
has identified the possible list of major activities of the project and required
resources to perform each activity. Appendix 1 provides information about the
project activities, duration of each activity, resource allocation and WBS but you need
to identify the project logic (activity links and their relationship). Appendix 2 provides
definitions on different activity relationships and appendix 3 shows the progress
tracking/monitoring data after week 16 from the start date of the project.

You are a newly employed planning manager for the project. Using ASTA
Powerproject BIM programming tool, you are assigned to produce an effective
construction programme of the project to allow the following functions: Gantt chart
and CPM Networks, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), resources analysis diagram,
progress tracking, risk simulation and produce a critical evaluative report including all
tasks below for the approval from the project manager.

1. Gantt chart with CPM network and WBS (Max 25 marks)

a. Produce a construction programme of a building project using ASTA

Powerproject V15. Calculate AST, AFT, and TF based on As Soon as Possible
(ASAP) method and identify critical path. You must draw manually Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS) of all tasks at level 3 and show them also in the
progarmme.

b. Critically evaluate the significance of the critical path method (CPM) and WBS
at the planning stage for the successful delivery of a project. Also, discuss the

Page 1 of 9
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

changes to the Critical Path, if the project is developed using As Late as

Possible (ALAP) method in the above example (Max 400 words).

2. Resource optimisation (Max 25 marks)

a. Produce the smoothed resource histograms for all resources. (Use A4 or A3

sheet as required). Explain why the resource smoothing and levelling is
important for reducing the waste of resources in a project. (200 words)

b. Carry out resource levelling for equipment resource and discuss how the
activities might be delayed beyond Latest Start Date (LST) to cater for the
limits on equipment resources because of levelling. Consider the resource
pool for equipment resources is 7 units per day. Critically evaluate the
significance for a project manager of resource management in project
delivery in time and cost. (200 words)

3. Progress tracking (max 25 marks)

a. Track the project progress at the end of week 16 from the project start date.
Assume that the practical site progress of all tasks before week 16 and take
into account the following exceptional events that occurred in the project.
 The steelwork contractor suffered labour resource problems and
started the structural steel frame 3 weeks late.
 The client changed the specification to the service duct, which caused
the service duct to commence 2 weeks later than the planned date on
the programme and take 1 week longer.
 Due to adverse weather, the duration of the sub-structure brick walls
increased by 3 weeks, although the task started on schedule.

b. Critically evaluate the impact of these delays on other activities and overall
project delivery. Also, discuss the possible measures considered by a project
manager to reduce the consequential impact on the possible liquated
damage and variation claim of time and cost (400 words).

4. Risk Simulation and Analysis (max 25 marks)

a. Conduct a sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation (assume max 20%
higher and min 20% lower than the estimated duration of the selected tasks
due to the influence of risk factors in the project) and present the results in
your report. Tables and/or graphs are likely to be useful in helping to present
the results clearly.

b. Critically analyse the likelihood/probability of the delivery being on time and

discuss the possible measures that may be taken by the project manager to
ensure the project is completed on time (400 words).

Page 2 of 9
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Project Information

 Start the project on the 07-Oct- 2019.

 Use the default UK working calendar (i.e. Saturdays and Sundays are non
working days, 8 working hours in a day)
 Use resource unit as decimal.
 8.
 Clearly identify each part of the answers to the questions.
 Use header and footers to clearly indicate what the chart or graph is showing
 You must adhere strictly to the limit of words specified for each question.
 The project is expected to complete within 18-24 months.

Clarification of the assignment and demonstration of the software tool will be given
in the module assignment briefing session and within IT tutorial workshops.

Coursework Submission Guide

The project (coursework) will be undertaken and submitted as a report individually.

This involves the development of a production programme, analyse resources and
cost incorporating the knowledge of planning, scheduling, progress monitoring and
cost controlling of a project as well as demonstrating Building Information Modelling
(BIM). An assignment brief about the coursework will be uploaded in Canvas. The
hard copy of coursework report will be submitted by 6th December 2019 (Week 11)
before 5pm at the transaction desk in the Faculty Admin Office and e-copy of the
report in PDF format via Canvas.

Page 3 of 9
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Appendix 1 Details of activities, relationships & resources for the Project

Page 4 of 9
 Level 1 Work Ref Activity Immediate Type of Lag Duration Equipmen Skilled Unskilled
Packages No Description Predecessor Relatio (Days) (days) t /day Worker / Worker/
(Level 2) (Level 3 nship day day
7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment
B + -
U 1 Start on site 0 0 - -- -
I 2 Site 1 10 3 3 3
L preparation
D 3 Piling 2 15 2 2 3
I 4 Pile caps & 3 5 20 2 2 4
N Structure ground beams
G 5 Structural steel 4 3 30 2 3 3
frame
P 6 PCC floors 9 25 3 2 2
R level
O 7 Drainage 6 5 30 2 1 2
J under slab
E 8 Service Ducts 7 5 20 2 2 4
C 9 Concrete 5 5 25 3 2 2
T column
casements
Project 10 Sub structure 4 20 2 1 2
Start date brickwork
07/10/2019
11 Insulation and 8 15 1 1 2
sacred to
ground floor

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 + -

12 Blue brickwork 15 4 1 2
Envelope & external skin
B 13 Claddings External block 12 3 1 3
U GF work
I 14 Kalwall panelling 10 4 1 2
L 15 Door & windows - 8 2 - 3 5 of 9
Page
D GF
I 16 Envelope & Zinc cladding 15 4 1 4
N 17 Claddings External block 12 2 2 2
G
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Appendix 2 Activity relationship definition

Activity Means Looks like this in the Lead (-) Lag (+)
relationship Gantt chart
Finish-to-start (FS) The finish date of the predecessor task determines Lead-time causes the Lag time causes a
the start date of the successor task. successor activity to delay of (n) days

Start-to-Start (SS) The start date of the predecessor task determines start (n) number of days to start the

the start date of the successor task. before the predecessor successor
activity, irrespective of activity,
Finish-to-finish (FF) The finish date of the predecessor task determines
the relationship irrespective of
the finish date of the successor task.
between the two the relationship
Start-to-finish (SF) The start date of the predecessor task determines
activities. between the two
the finish date of the successor task.
activities.

Page 6 of 9
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Appendix 3

Actual data after week 16 (from the project start date)

Ref No Activity Description Percentage Complete

(Level 4)
3 Piling 100%
10 Sub structure brick work 70%
12 Blue brickwork external skin 30%
16 Zinc cladding 20%
22 Kalwall panelling 15%
26 Kalwall panelling 5%

Note: please assume reasonable progress in the rest of work activities (tasks) that
look logical according to the progress period at End of week 16.

Structural framing-5

PCC floor levels-5

Substructure- the part of the structural system that is below the ground level

Page 7 of 9
 7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Consists of the foundations for the building and column, and walls below the
ground level.
Basement for multi-storey buildings are also considered to be substructure
Substructure supports and anchors the superstructure into the earth.

Excavation
Column footing and tie beam- pouring of concrete mix on footing and tie beam
Poured column below tie beam
Tie beam rebar preparation
Column formwork from footing to tie beam
Tie beam rebar reinforcement
Poured tie beam
Column formwork

Poured column

Pile Foundations- take more loads than spread footing foundations

Piles driven to ground
Pile caps & ground beam- ground beam sits on top of piles
On top of the ground beam lies the substructure brickwork and then
superstructure

Superstructure- components of superstructures are roof, slab, beams, columns,

walls, floor etc.

Piling>pile and ground beam>substructure brickwork>steel structural framing

(assuming steel columns)> encasing of the steel columns> PCC floor (ground floor
slab)> Drainage under slab>service ducts

Page 8 of 9
7435BEPG_Coursework Assignment

Page 9 of 9