IIT Madras is a public technical and research university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1959, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

IIT Madras has been ranked as the top engineering institute in India for four years in a row by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the MHRD

It currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. About 596 faculty belonging to science and engineering departments and centres of the Institute are engaged in teaching, research and industrial consultancy.

IIT Madras

Companies keep minimal resources such as equipment, labor, and non-renewable materials to maintain productive working capital. This means that resources are constrained, and a multi-project environment adds further complexity since resources have to be shared among projects. Existing project management approaches such as critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT) etc. are mainly suitable for the unconstrained resource situation. However, industry practitioners are required to handle resource constrained situations and multi-project priorities. Hence, it is important to identify the best practices and systematic approaches used in resource constrained multi-project environment. The objective of ongoing research is to determine the industry practices under resource unconstrained and constrained multi-project settings. An interview with experts and a questionnaire survey were conducted to determine the current industry practices followed for solving project scheduling problems. This research has revealed that resource unconstrained multi-project environment is rare, whereas resource constrained multi-project environment models the real nature of actual projects. When modelled as an unconstrained resource problem, underutilization of resources might occur. On the other hand, in a resource constrained problem, limited resources are shared among project sites, resulting in efficient utilization of resources. The decision process can follow either centralized or decentralized model. A decentralized model is recommended for handling small size projects in a multi-project environment. However, the systematic centralized model is recommended for the large size multi-project environment to optimize the multiple objectives. This study brings out that the current industry practices in India to manage multi-project scheduling problems use_experience based heuristics to accommodate the practical challenges which may not be replicated in other project instances. © Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, CRIOCM 2017.All right reserved.

Department Of Civil Engineering

Proceedings of 22nd International Conference on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, CRIOCM 2017

An overview of multi-project scheduling problems in India with resource constrained and unconstrained settings

Construction cost is the most important criteria of project success and hence the construction project performance is generally expressed in terms of cost and its variance from the budget. In spite of having extant literature, cost estimation methods, cost indices etc., construction projects rarely meet the budgeted cost. This research study focuses on the construction cost overrun and to identify the various factors that affects the construction cost performance. Based on an extensive literature review and input from industry experts, sixty eight factors that causes cost overrun were identified for investigation. Further, a structured questionnaire survey was conducted among the industry experts and the collected data has been analysed statistically. It is concluded that the factors namely scope creep, construction delays, rework and practise of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder are most significant factors for construction cost overrun in non-infrastructural Indian projects. The relative importance of the listed factors used to guide the project team in addressing the cost related risks involved in the projects. The findings are expected to bridge the gap in the current construction cost management practices. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2017.

Fulltext

MATEC Web of Conferences

Factors influencing cost over-run in Indian construction projects

Determination of a schedule to complete projects exactly on their assigned due-dates is considered a major objective for many researchers and practicing managers. In some situations, projects that are completed before their due-dates are not handed over to the project owner or customer, but held with the organisation that executes the project, while the projects that are completed after their due-dates are considered tardy and result in loss of customer goodwill and penalty. The current study, therefore, addresses the problem of scheduling resource-constrained multiple projects with the consideration of projects having different relative earliness and relative tardiness costs. In the first phase of the study, relative costs (or weights) for tardiness of projects is considered, and the scheduling rules are presented in order to minimise the weighted tardiness of projects. In the second phase of the study, the objective considered is the minimisation of the sum of weighted earliness and weighted tardiness of projects, and the scheduling rules are presented by incorporating the relative costs of earliness and tardiness of projects. Computational studies have been conducted separately for both phases of the current study; the performance of the scheduling rules has been observed independently and the results of the computational study have been reported. Copyright © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Department of Management Studies

International Journal of Operational Research

Scheduling in resource-constrained multiple projects to minimise the weighted tardiness and weighted earliness of projects

In the Resource-Constrained Multi-Project Scheduling (RCMPS) literature, studies on scheduling involving the minimisation of the maximum tardiness of multiple projects are rather limited. This paper, therefore, analyses the performance of the existing and newly proposed scheduling rules in the static RCMPS environment by considering performance measures involving Mean Tardiness (MT) and the Maximum Tardiness (MaxT) of projects. The present work evaluates scheduling rules that consider project due-dates, operation/activity duration times, operation/activity due-dates, project slack and activity slack, and presents the results of performance evaluation. Copyright © 2009, Inderscience Publishers.

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Performance analysis of scheduling rules in resource-constrained multiple projects

Motivation is one of the factors that influence the productivity of people. Engineers play a vital role in the management of projects in a construction organisation. The success of these projects relies heavily on their active involvement and effective performance. Hence it is important to assess the impact of motivation on the performance of these engineers. The broad objective of this work is to assess the impact of motivation on the performance of these engineers. The specific objective of this paper is identifying the key factors that cause motivation and de-motivation in engineers. Literature survey, expert opinion and semi-structured interviews were conducted to find these factors. A structured principal questionnaire survey was carried out among 100 engineers from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to find the weightages for the key factors. Using these factors to conduct specific motivational programmes will help in improving the productivity of people on a project.

Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2009 - Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference

Motivation and demotivation 'cause factors' for engineers in construction organisations

The short-line match-cast joint method of pre-casting concrete segments has proved to be the most versatile and reliable way to building pre-cast segmental bridges. The essential feature of match casting is that successive segments are cast against adjoining segment in the correct relative orientation with each other starting from the first segment away from the pier. The segments are subsequently erected on the same order and hence no adjustments are required between segments during assembly. The success of short-line match-cast joint method relies heavily on accurate geometry control during match casting as the scale of adjustments during erection is very small and difficult to implement. The required levels of accuracy in positioning the segments match-cast against each other are stringent in order to assure acceptable tolerances in the geometry of the structure. It was found that even a fraction of millimeter of error in segment casting gets amplified to several meters at the end of the bridge span and can result in significant rework. Stringent control of geometry and successive correction of errors are required to ensure that the geometry of the bridge is maintained. The paper will describe the match-casting process and the sources of errors in the process. Next the detailed steps to determine and correct the error are discussed. Finally a conceptual system comprising of a laser based measurement, processor controlled and a servo based form adjustment is proposed to automate the entire process.

World University root node

ISARC 2008 - Proceedings from the 25th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction

Automated geometry control of precast segmental bridges

The efficacy of managing a construction project mainly depends on proper planning and scheduling. Mass housing projects are highly repetitive in nature, as the methods used for construction are often repetitive or cyclic. Resources are therefore being deployed repeatedly for the similar or identical tasks in these projects. In order to eradicate delays in mobilizing resources, an efficient resource schedule is required. Traditional scheduling tools like Critical Path Method (CPM), Programme Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) are less effective in scheduling repetitive construction projects, as they consider availability of resources are unlimited. The main challenge in preparing construction schedule for repetitive projects is synchronizing the precedence logic and the allocation of resources as per requirements for all the activities. Consequently, activity scheduling and resource planning are prepared in parallel and this will facilitate in eliminating delays and idle resources across the projects thereby, controls the chain-reaction management (ripple effects). Nevertheless, almost all the repetitive scheduling methods developed so far have been giving focus on continuous repetitive projects, whereas in the present study, the emphasis is on discrete (non-linear) repetitive projects. This paper presents a model that uses genetic algorithms to optimally assign resources to repetitive activities, which aimed to minimize the total project cost & duration, idle cost & time and to maximize resource utilization. In the present study, an attempt is made to generate a resource-driven construction schedule automatically, with which resources can optimally be allocated to the activities. This schedule can be very useful in improving productivity and saving construction time and cost and also in decision-making. In addition, a case study is delineated to check the efficiency and effectiveness of the resource-driven construction schedule which is automated.

Automation and Robotics in Construction - Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction

A model for automated generation of resource-driven construction schedule for housing industry

Since the late 1950's, Critical Path Method (CPM) and Programme Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) have been widely used in the construction industry for planning and scheduling construction projects. The major drawback of these two techniques is the assumption of unlimited resource availability. In many real life situations, construction projects must be scheduled under limited resources. The problem becomes more and more complex when the resources are allocated and shared among multiple projects. This challenge of allocating scarce resources to the competing activities of different projects is of great concern to any project manager. Such decisions need to be made quickly. The availability of a decision rule or heuristic, which will be effective in minimising the total project tardiness, can be especially valuable. A simulation model has been developed to schedule the activities in the multiple projects when the resources are highly constrained.

Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2005 - Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference

A simulation model for resource constrained scheduling of multiple projects

The AEC (Architecture/Engineering/Construction) industry is facing a tough competition. The conventional scheduling methods explain the progress of the work in the form of bar charts and network diagrams. It is very difficult to visualise the sequence of activities and the parallel occurrence of it. Visualization of the structure at stages of progress of the project will give an easy understanding of the progress of the project to the team members at different levels. Also the project manager can see the delay in the project, if any activity is suspended or otherwise, and thus can view changes in the project model if any of this activity is updated. 4D models will be useful for identifying the construction problems prior to construction and will play a crucial role in decision-making process. Thus, this tool of 4D visualization will be used for a better communication of the project that will help to visualize the construction. The main objective of this paper is to report on the development and implementation of a 4D tool in the Indian AEC industry linking both schedule as well as a 3D model of a generalised building or structure. A case study has also been taken to validate the developed model.

Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Architectural Engineering Division

Implementation of 4D visualization as a planning tool in the Indian AEC industry

Despite massive investment opportunities and the establishment of a framework for private sector participation in highway infrastructure development programmes in India, private investment (including foreign direct investment) in this sector is not up to the expected level. A high degree of risk exposure, disagreement on many risk issues among major stakeholders, and the absence of adequate government guarantees have been identified as some of the major reasons for this lukewarm response. This paper discusses the outcome of a risk perception analysis carried out to evaluate the risk criticality, risk management capability, risk allocation/sharing preference, and factors influencing risk acceptance of major stakeholders. A survey was conducted among senior project participants such as government officials, promoters, lenders and consultants of Indian BOT road projects. Eight types of risks have been identified as very critical in the Indian road sector under BOT set up with traffic revenue risk being the most critical. Though there is fair agreement among survey respondents with respect to the risk management capabilities of stakeholders, their preferences of allocations are divergent. The significant factors influencing the risk acceptance of each stakeholder are identified through regression analysis. The study reveals that the factors and their relative influence on the risk acceptance of stakeholders are considerably different.

GENERAL

Construction Management and Economics

Risk perception analysis of BOT road project participants in India

Privatized infrastructure development is becoming increasingly common in India as a means for providing infrastructure services without directly impacting the sovereign finance. This paper focuses on some of the key issues related to the management of privatized infrastructure development in India such as various developmental and operational risks, lack of a comprehensive risk management tool suitable for domestic environment, difficulty in obtaining finance from both domestic and foreign financiers, need of careful capital structuring, absence of adequate legal framework for the project, role of project consultants, and importance of organizational characteristics of the promoter firm. Need for developing standard conditions of contract clauses applicable to BOT type procurement system is also highlighted.

Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Civil Engineering Division

Management of privatised infrastructure development in India: Key issues

The high degree of complexity, tight competition and scarcity of resources involved in real life projects necessitates the application of modern management techniques for the satisfactory achievement of objectives and smooth execution of the projects. The situation becomes more complicated when multiple projects, mostly of different nature, are to be managed simultaneously. Here, the critical and scarce resources have to be shared between the projects at different times. This challenge of allocating different scarce resources to the competing activities of different projects is of great concern to any project manager. Over the years, several solution techniques have been suggested and tried for this problem of resource constrained scheduling including analytical methods, heuristic methods, and search algorithms. This paper presents a survey of the methods reported in the literature, tries to categorize them and indicates directions for future developments.