Graphical-based multistage scheduling method for RC buildings

In Taiwan, contractors are becoming specialized in certain types of construction in an increasingly competitive environment and this specialization requires some scheduling models to provide better scheduling results for each type of construction. A new practical method, Graphical-Based Multistage Scheduling Method (GMSM), for scheduling RC building superstructures is presented herein. From the analysis of characteristics and construction custom of RC buildings, four constraints, (a) down-up construction, (b) building inspection, (c) reuse of beam forms, and (d) reuse of slab forms, can be established. The GMSM is developed utilizing a graphical-based method and the concept of resource reuse, and the general form of the GMSM to be facilely implemented in any worksheet software is derived as well. The results of this study provide some quantitative information as a useful guide for scheduling RC building superstructures.