1

Scheduling Techniques in Projects

Lecture-4 Precedence
Diagramming Method

Dr. J. Uma Maheswari

Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
umapaul@civil.iitd.ac.in
 2

Lecture-4 PDM
1. Introduction

2. Analysis - Contiguous activity execution

3. Analysis - Interruptible activity execution

 3

Precedence Diagraming Method

 Like CPM, PDM is widely used in the construction
industry
 Uses AoN notation
 Four Logical relationships
– FS (Finish-to-Start) relationship is the most frequently used
logical relationship
– SS (Start-to-Start) and FF (Finish-to-Finish) are used to
specify full or partial concurrency of tasks
– SF (Start-to-Finish) is very rarely used in networks

A B A A
A B

A B B
A
B A B A B
B
 4

Precedence Diagraming Method

 Lead & lag A
– Lag is a condition of waiting for a prescribed period 10
before action can start
– Negative lag is lead 5
 Multiple Arrows & Double headed arrows - not B
used 8
 Concurrency
– Completely concurrency
– Absolute complete concurrency (identical & no lags
or leads)

A A A
12 5 7 A B
7 6
B B B
7 6 No loops are
5
allowed in PDM
 5

Purpose of PDM - Overlaps

A A

B B
Independent Dependent

A A

Semi-independent B
B
SS + lag FF + lead
 6

Case Example 1
No Activity Activity Duration IPA
ID (days)
2 Brickwork –T1 B1 90
3 Joinery Works – T1 J1 75 B1FS
4 Flooring Works – T1 F1 90 J1FS
5 Painting Works – T1 P1 80 F1FS
6 Brickwork –T2 B2 90 B1FS
7 Joinery Works – T2 J2 75 J1FS, B2FS
8 Flooring Works – T2 F2 90 F1FS, J2FS
9 Painting Works – T2 P2 80 F2FS, P1FS
 7

Purpose of PDM – Repetitive activities

B1 J1 F1 P1
90 75 90 80

B1 J1 F1 P1
90 75 90 80

Percent Complete Approach

90
0.4
B J A B
180 150 10 7
75
0.1
A B
2 10
 8

Case Example 2 – Laboratory

Activity ID Activity Duration (days) IPA
A Internal Wiring 2 --
B Furniture – Cupboards 10 A
C Flooring 7 B
D False Ceiling 7 B
E POP and painting 4 C, D
F Furniture Procurement – Tables and chairs 15 E(FF)
G Furniture Installation – Tables and chairs 1 F, J
H Hardware Procurement – PCs, Printers, etc. 45 E(FF)
I Software Procurement – Research related 45 --
J Electrical fixtures – Lights, fans, ACs, etc. 2 E
K Hardware Installation 3 G, H
L Network Connection 1 K(FF)
M Software Installation 2 I, K, L
N CCTVs and Biometrics installation 1 M
O Firefighting systems 1 E
 9

PDM Network
ID IPA
A --
B A
C B
D B
I
E C, D
A F E(FF)
H K M N G F, J
H E(FF)
I --
B C E J L
J E
K G, H
D
F G L K(FF)
M I, K, L
N M
O O E
 10

Example 3 PDM
Activity Duration IPA Relationship
A 20 -- --
B 15 A
C 10 A SS+2
D 7 A FF+2
C
E 9 D FS+5
F 6 E FS-10
G 4 B
E FS+2
F FF+4
 Act Dur IPA 11
A 20 -- --
Example 3 PDM Network B 15 A
C 10 A SS+2
D 7 A FF+2
C
E 9 D FS+5
B
F 6 E FS-10
G 4 B
15 E FS+2
F FF+4
A E G
2

20 9 4
2 5 -10 4
2

C D F

10 7 6
 12

PDM – Contiguous Activities

Forward Pass
20 B 35

15

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2

20 2 9 4
2 -10
4
2 C 12 15 D 22 26 F 34
5

10 7 8
 13

PDM – Contiguous Activities

Backward Pass
20 B 35

23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2

0 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 15 D 22 26 F 34
5

5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 14

PDM – Contiguous Activities

Total Float (TF)
20 B 35
3
23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0
0 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 15 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 0 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 15

PDM – Contiguous Activities

Critical Path
20 B 35
3
23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0
0 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 15 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 0 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 16

Caution with PDM

 Normal Critical
– This refers to an activity for which the project duration shifts in
the same direction as the shift in the duration of the activity
 Reverse Critical
– This refers to an activity for which the project duration shifts in
the reverse direction to the shift in the duration of the activity
 17

Interruptible activities - critical path

 Forward & backward pass

 Task start float (SF) = LS – ES

– The starting of a task may be critical even though the task
itself is not critical
 Task finish float (FF) = LF – EF
– The completion of a task may be critical even when the task
itself is not critical
 Task total float (TF) = LF – ES – dur
– A task that has zero total float is a critical task

 Relationship float (RF)

– FS: LS(j) – EF(i) – lag
– SS: LS(j) – ES(i) – lag
– FF: LF(j) – EF(i) – lag
– SF: LF(j) – ES(i) – lag
 18

PDM Representation
Lead
ES Act. EF or
RF Lag
SF TF FF

LS Dur. LF

RF (Relationship Float)
Task Float
FS = LSj - EFi - lag
SF (Start Float) = LS - ES

SS = LSj - ESi - lag

FF (Finish Float) = LF - EF

FF = LFj - EFi - lag

TF (Total Float) = LF - ES - Duration

SF = LFj - ESi - lag

 Act Dur IPA 19
A 20 -- --
Example 3 PDM Network B 15 A
C 10 A SS+2
D 7 A FF+2
C
E 9 D FS+5
B
F 6 E FS-10
G 4 B
15 E FS+2
F FF+4
A E G
2

20 2 9 4
2 -10
4
C D F
5

10 7 6
 20

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Forward Pass
20 B 35

15

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2

20 2 9 4
2 -10
4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5

10 7 8
 21

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Backward Pass
20 B 35

23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2

20 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5

5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 22

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Task Start Float (SF) = LS-ES
20 B 35
3
23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0
20 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 3 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 23

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Task Finish Float (FF) = LF-EF
20 B 35
3 3
23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0 0 0 0
20 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 3 3 0 4 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 24

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Task Total Float (TF) = LF-ES-dur
20 B 35
3 3 3
23 15 38

0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 20 20 2 27 9 36 38 4 42
2 -10
4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 3 3 3 3 0 4 4 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 25

PDM – Interruptible Activities

FS = LSj - EFi - lag
Relationship Float
SS = LSj - ESi - lag
20 B 35 FF = LFj - EFi - lag
3 3 3
SF = LFj - ESi - lag
23 15 38 3
3
0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
20 20 20 27 9 36 38 4 42
3 2 0 2 -10
4 4 4
0
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
5
3 3 3 3 3 0 4 4 4
3
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 26

PDM – Interruptible Activities

Critical Path
20 B 35
3 3 3
23 15 38 3
3
0 A 20 27 E 36 38 G 42
2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
20 20 20 0 27 9 36 38 4 42
3 2
2 4
-10 4
0 4
2 C 12 12 D 22 26 F 34
3 5
3 3 3 3 3 0 4 4 4
5 10 15 15 7 22 30 8 38
 27

Float calculations
 SRF Start-restricted float
– Amount of time we can delay the rest of the work in the activity, after
it has started on its critical start date, without delaying the entire
project
 FRF Finish-restricted float
– Amount of time we can delay the start of work on the activity, or the
rest of it has started, then finish on time without delaying the entire
project
 DRF Double-restricted float
– Amount of time we have to delay the rest of the work in the activity
after it has started, then finish on time without delaying the entire
project
 URF Unrestricted float
– Amount of time we can delay all or part of the activity without
delaying the entire project

 Single Restricted Float

– Start-restricted float and Finish-restricted float