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Critical path method delay analysis techniques are widely applied in the construction industry, with the windows method being regarded as technologically advantageous. The approach looks at different schedule snapshots (windows) throughout the project and analyzes the contractor versus owner responsibility for delaying the critical paths. Accordingly, decisions regarding time and/or cost compensation could be made. While the technique is beneficial, it is computationally intensive and produces different results with different window sizes. Commercial software provide little support in this regard and the analysis is usually done manually. In this paper, a modified windows approach is introduced with computerized daily analysis of delays so that accurate and repeatable results are produced. The new approach is coupled with a new representation of progress information and is readily usable by professionals and researchers to evaluate project delays. Details of the daily analysis are introduced along with two case studies that demonstrate its advantages over the traditional windows approach. A downloadable version is made available for experimental use by researchers and professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily recording of the actions done by all parties on a construction site is necessary, not only for confirming that work is done according to specifications, but also for analyzing any claims for additional time/cost. Site records, however, are often incomplete and inaccurate, and commercial scheduling software provides little support in this regard. In this paper, a simplified approach for site-data recording and constructing “as-built” schedules is introduced through the use of intelligent bar charts. The proposed bar chart guides the user through progress reporting by observing any conflict with the planned logic of the work. It automatically recognizes the occurrence of delays and asks the user to record the responsible party and the reasons. Based on percent completes and recorded delays, the bar chart recognizes the progress status of activities as being slow, suspended, or accelerated. The paper starts with a description of the types of data that need to be recorded on site. It then provides a description of the automated guidance mechanism of the proposed bar chart, along with details on schedule integration and applicability for claim analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]