Construction Engineering and Management
Construction engineering covers planning, scheduling, cost control, and earthwork for building projects. The exam tests CPM scheduling, earned-value metrics, quantity take-offs, and temporary works.
Scheduling with CPM
The critical path method computes early and late start/finish times. Total float = Late Finish - Early Finish is the slack an activity has without delaying the project; critical-path activities have zero float. The critical path sets the shortest possible project duration.
Earned Value and Cost Control
Earned-value management compares planned, earned, and actual costs. The Cost Performance Index CPI = EV/AC and Schedule Performance Index SPI = EV/PV flag problems: values below 1.0 mean over budget or behind schedule, respectively.
Earthwork and Quantities
Excavated soil swells, so loose volume = bank volume x (1 + swell); compacted fill shrinks. Concrete quantities convert from cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27. Accurate take-offs drive ordering, hauling, and cost estimates.