Excerpt
This book is first about improving the efficiency in managing construction projects through the use of computers. Second, it is about coping with increasing challenges of tight budgets, strict deadlines, and limited resources of construction projects. Third, it is about the modeling and utilization of construction information to support construction operations. With computer use so prevalent at the university and industry levels, this book focuses on the efficient use of computers in project management, as an important domain in which information technology can achieve substantial benefits.
The book introduces the basic quantitative methods for construction project management with hands-on computer application. Users will develop skills to analyze projects and use computers to optimize resource use and meet various project challenges during their planning and control. A variety of computer applications (spreadsheet templates, commercial software, and custom applications) are incorporated into the CD that comes with this book. These computer applications are not only for demonstration purposes but also for actual use in real-life project management.
In this book, computer-aided construction project management is described in a collective and practical manner that is not a software vendor's point of view. It includes topics such as construction contracts, integrated estimating and scheduling, resource management, bidding strategies, cash flow analysis, and project control. Whereas the book deals with the basics of these topics, the handling of these topics is current and reflects on recent research and developments in these areas. Early chapters (2, 3, and 4) use simple spreadsheets, and the reader is given detailed steps on how these spreadsheets are implemented and how they fit within a firm's information management system. Starting from Chapter 5, the reader will be using Microsoft Project and Primavera P3 software systems, powerful commercial programs for project management. Some chapters will also utilize custom applications and macro programs in Microsoft Project. The reader, however, will not be exposed to the complex code but to the relevant mathematical basics and the details of using the program. The last chapter also discusses advanced topics such as the application of artificial intelligence and the Internet in construction.
Main Features:
- Comprehensive coverage of quantitative construction management techniques for planning, estimating, scheduling, project crashing, cost optimization, cash flow analysis, bidding, and project control;
- All underlying concepts are presented both manually and on computer applications;
- A unified case study is used, and its development evolves with the concepts covered in the successive chapters;
- Another complete case study is included in Appendix B to present all concepts together in one place;
- The latest versions of industry-standard software for project management (Microsoft Project and Primavera P3) are covered in the book;
- Various tips and tricks are included to fully utilize the simple and powerful features of Excel and project management software to organize project information and efficiently manage construction;
- A simple step-by-step process to optimize project cost under time, resource, and cash flow constraints is explained and demonstrated in case studies;
- A fully working Excel template is included on the CD with a comprehensive model for estimating, scheduling, cash flow analysis, bid unbalancing, cost optimization, and project control, with automated links to Microsoft Project. This template is ready for use in your next project;
- Comprehensive coverage of resource management topics with various Microsoft Project templates for repetitive construction, multiskilled resources, and resource optimization;
- Newly emerging concepts such as Critical Chain Project Management are covered;
- A class game is included in Chapter 12 to demonstrate the impact of uncertainty;
- Many manual and computer-based exercises are included after each chapter to supplement the students' educational experience. Also, case study exercise projects in Appendix C can be used for student group projects;
- All Excel and Microsoft Project files that relate to the various chapters are included on the CD;
- A working version of Evolver (a commercial Genetic Algorithm software) is included on the CD and is used for cost optimization;
- A fully working version of ProBID software for competitive bidding is included on the CD; and
- Appendix A lists Web resources that supplement the material in various chapters.
Although this book is intended mainly for a senior undergraduate course in construction project management, the material also can be used for a course at the graduate level arid for specialized workshops for trade engineers. The book assumes familiarity with basic computer operation and the use of word processing and spreadsheets in the Microsoft Windows environment.
Thanks to the reviewers of this book for their helpful comments and suggestions: David Bilbo, Texas A&M University; Burl George, Bradley University; Madan Mehta, University of Texas, Arlington; and John Schaufelberger, University of Washington.
Tarek Hegazy, Ph.D., P.Eng.
University of Waterloo