A methodology for scheduling overlapped design activities based on dependency information

The practice of overlapping activities is becoming a requirement for fast-tracking complex construction projects. The amount, timing, and nature of the information exchanged between pairs of activities determine the degree to which pairs of activities may be overlapped. This paper presents a four-step process for scheduling the design phase of fast-tracked construction projects while taking into consideration information exchange among project activities. The process starts with capturing and quantifying this exchange of dependency information. A contemporary scheduling tool, the dependency structure matrix (DSM), aids in generating the shortest (overlapped) schedule based on dependencies among the different design disciplines. An algorithm is designed to calculate the shortest possible schedule for the design phase of a construction project. The developed scheduling algorithm is unique as it includes information exchange alongside task durations. The algorithm is validated in the context of a real-world case study, a fast-tracked multi-billion dollar educational facility project in the Arabian Peninsula.

► Fast-tracking complex projects require overlapping and compressing activities.
► Overlapping and compressing design work requires a two-way exchange of information.
► A DSM-based scheduling framework allows for a two-way exchange of information.
► A DSM-based computerized tool can generate a fast-track design schedule.