L13b Linear Scheduling Method (LSM)

Because of the repetitive nature of linear

construction projects, Linear Scheduling Method
(LSM) is specially for planning and scheduling this
type of project.
LSM plots lines of constant or varying slopes on two
axes to represent activities. One axis is used to
represent the time. The other axis is used to record
the progress of activities.
According to the characteristic of a project, the
progress could be distance (for highway and pipeline
project), floor levels (for building construction), or
sections (for general).
The slope of a line at any position or period of time
represent the productivity (or rate of progress) at
that location or during that time period.
An activity is allowed to have interruptions during
the entire length of the project.
The diagram is used to plan or record project
construction progress on activities which move
continuously in sequence along the length of a single
project.
A small bridge project
A
B
C
Act. code Description Quantity Productivity Duration
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Excavation A
Excavation B
Excavation C
Foundation A
Foundation B
Foundation C
Pier A
Pier B
Pier C
Beams A-B
Beams B-C
3000 m
3
1500 m
3
500 m
3
200 m
3
100 m
3
150 m
3
200 m
3
180 m
3
200 m
3
24 no
24 no
250 m
3
/d
250 m
3
/d
250 m
3
/d
25 m
3
/d
25 m
3
/d
25 m
3
/d
10 m
3
/d
10 m
3
/d
10 m
3
/d
2 no/d
2 no/d
12 d
6
2
8
4
6
20
18
20
12
12
This project can be scheduled as a linear
project. We measure the progress of each
activity in percent complete. There are four
construction activities : excavation, foundation,
pier, and beams
Activity Quantity Percent Productivity Duration
Excavation
A
B
C
Foundation
A
B
C
Pier
A
B
C
Beams
A-B
B-B
5000
3000
1500
500
450
200
100
150
580
200
180
200
48
12
12
100%
60%
30%
10%
100%
44,4%
22,2%
33,3%
100%
34,5%
31,0%
34,5%
100%
50%
50%
250



25



10



2
20
12
6
2
18
8
4
6
58
20
18
20
24
12
12
Time (Working days)
Act.3
Act.2
Act.1
0 5 10 15 20
P
r
o
g
r
e
s
s

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Schedule the construction of the project from A to C
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Beams
Pier
Foundation
Days
Excavation