Space Structure, Network Charts, and Building Preparation in Construction

Posted on Jan 16, 2025 in Business Administration and Management (BAM)

Space Structure in Construction

The space structure consists of the locations of production/working areas for a certain production process. The space structure comprises storage areas, transport routes, locations of machines, equipment and distribution lines, and locations of employees in the space, as well as spatial relations between all those components. The space structure changes in the progress of production for different products. The space structure is in accordance with the technology and time structures.

Network Charts with Defined Edges

A network chart with defined edges is a definite directed chart that shows a model of a specific project. The edges represent project activities, while the nodes represent the time. This means the duration of each activity is given by the value of the network chart edge. For activities in one path, once one activity ends, another activity can start.

Types of Activities in Network Charts

  • Real Activity: It is performed and has a specific scope (for instance: placing of concrete for shallow foundations/footings or erection of a steel structure). It can be valued by means of resources and time. A solid line in the chart describes the real activities.
  • Dummy Activity: It represents the relation between the activities. Duration is zero. No resources are needed. A dash line describes the fictive activities.
  • Distance Activity: It represents the relation between the nodes and activities (leading times and delays). It poses requirements in terms of the time. Resources are not considered. A dot-and-dash line describes the distance activities.

Real activity i_tij_>j dummy: i–tij=0–>j dist i-.-.->j.

If several activities are in the node input and/or node output:

  • Each node (except for the start of the chart) is performed after all activities that end in the node have been completed. This is the conjunctivity of the node input.
  • Performance of any node (except for the end of the chart) means that all activities that start in the node are started. This is the determination of the node output.

Creating a Network Chart

  1. Determination of the breakdown of the project into specific activities (the progress of works and technology need to be considered).
  2. Creation of the primary network chart.
  3. Gradual changes in the network chart.

Relations and links of the activities can be logically derived:

  • By forward operations
  • By backward operations
  • By combined operations

Each network chart must fulfill three basic conditions:

  1. It must have one start and one end.
  2. It must be free of cycles.
  3. It must be free of multi-graphs.

Critical Path in Network Charts

In the network chart, there is at least one path when the earliest possible start and the latest acceptable end merge. This path represents the total duration of the project – this is a critical (decisive) path. All other paths are shorter with certain reserves.

Building Preparation Process

Building preparations involve preparing the detail design, rules for the detail design, and production costing.

Key Elements of Building Preparation

  1. Production calculation
  2. Detailed time schedule for construction and facilities
  3. Balance of resources: labor force, wages, material, construction equipment
  4. Third-party deliveries
  5. Drawings – site facilities, constructions, and facilities
  6. Technology rules (for some processes)

Building preparation is carried out by the supplier. Key outcomes of the supplier’s building preparation are:

  • Costing
  • Detailed long-term plan of the construction for the investment/property
  • Control plan
  • Testing plan