Keeping better site records using intelligent bar charts

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.