Formal development of line-of-balance technique

Highway construction, housing projects, long bridges, and many other types of construction projects are characterized by repetitive operations. Linear scheduling techniques are known to be the most suitable methods for the overall management of such types of construction projects. The line-of-balance technique is one of these linear scheduling methods using known scheduling methods such as the critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT), and bar chart, and it does not replace them. A preliminary survey of literature reveals that the method has not been formalized enough to be presented by a body of well-tested algorithms. As a consequence, its use in construction project management has been very limited and no attempts have been made for its computerization. This paper formalizes the line-of-balance method and develops its algorithms. The end result is a method suitable for the management of complex construction projects with repetitive activities. As such, it provides scheduling, resource management, project analysis, and project control.