Other Scheduling Methods - Construction Project Scheduling and Control - page 317

is faster than the predecessor's and will make activities as parallel as possible. This may
not be always possible or may be possible within limitations due to standard equipment
production. Physical space also has to be observed in order to create a safe and effective
work environment.
A new method of calculating linear schedules, called the productivity scheduling
method has recently been developed (Lucko 2008). It employs singularity functions,
which have the feature that they can be turned on when they are needed. The produc-
tivity of activities is translated into the slope of their respective functions, which are
then added sequentially to the linear schedule, separated by buffers, in an algorithm
that guarantees the minimum total project duration.
LSM Computer Software Programs
The LSMmethod has not found a wide acceptance in the construction industry despite
its analytical advantages. One drawback appears to be the lack of major software pack-
ages offering LSM capabilities. However, the method is believed to be making a
comeback as a growing number of programs are becoming available, commercially
as well as academically, that employ this versatile method. Examples include:
• Vico Control™ (formerly Graphisoft ® Control/DYNAProject™ at Helsinki
University of Technology) by Vico Software in Finland
• TILOS by Asta Development in Germany
• Spider Project PM System by Spider Management Technologies in Russia
• PlaNet by Artemis International Solutions in Finland
• LinearPlus Time Chainage Charts by PCF that is part of QEI Exec Project
Management Software and was developed for the Channel Tunnel
• Earlier programs, including Q. Scheduling by Misronet Construction Infor-
mation Services, TimeChg 2000 by Peter Clarke, and TransCon Xposition by
TransCon Consulting in Richmond, Virginia, now Milestone Consultants
Researchers at several universities have created prototype software, including
UNaLSS (University of Naples Linear Scheduling Software) in 2005 in Italy, PULSS
(Purdue University Linear Scheduling Software) in 2001, FLSP (Florida Linear
Scheduling Program) in 1999 at the University of Florida, and LCPM (Linear
Construction Project Manager) in 1998 at Texas A&M University (Dell'Acqua
et al., 2005), as well as PSM (Productivity Scheduling Method) in 2008 at Catholic
University of America, LBMS (Location-Based Management System) in 2006 at
Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, POLO (Planning & Optimization
for Linear Operations) in 1995 at Purdue University, and various other older
computer implementations.
LSM has been used in the form of diagrams that were drawn in computer-aided
design (CAD) software, for example, for a pipeline project. Finally, any spreadsheet
software, for example, Microsoft Excel as well as scientific computing environments,