Basics of Construction Project Planning

Course description

‘Project planning’ describes the creation of a framework for the execution, monitoring and control of projects and is a critical phase that takes much time if done manually. Project planning is inherently uncertain because it occurs before work begins. Specific methods are required to estimate required resources and the cost of each activity to gauge total project cost. This course explains how to apply these skills in the construction industry.

Construction projects are never simple and require careful planning to establish their overall direction. A project plan is a collection of documents that can evolve throughout a project. To plan any project successfully, you must first understand the fundamental concept of planning. This project management course lays out the crucial steps of the process of the project planning and scheduling process. We begin with a definition of ‘planning’ and an examination of the requirements of the planning process.

The course then explains how to determine the scope and nature of construction projects and emphasises the importance of project scheduling. Once established and agreed upon, the project schedule is referred to as the ‘baseline schedule’. We outline how to prepare and complete a baseline schedule for substructure and superstructure construction works.

We go through a number of tools designed to monitor progress on projects, starting with the ‘Bill Of Quantities’ (BoQ) used to measure the monthly quantities of material required to complete construction. We then explain how to calculate the monthly cost rate and prepare an invoice. The course covers the process of estimating bulk material quantities for specific activities as calculating the correct coefficients for PCC, concrete, plastering and flooring works is critical. Our final sections address labour and lay out the procedures for determining how many workers are required for each phase of the construction project. Sign up to learn how to apply project planning and management principles to the field of construction.