Visvesvaraya Technological University

Belagavi, Karnataka, 590 014

A MINI PROJECT REPORT ON

“Construction activity management of a building with Primavera P6”

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
In
CIVIL ENGINEERING SEMESTER
VI

Submitted By
Ms. Anhar Fatima Kusugal
(2KE22CV002)

Under the Guidance of

Prof. Sandesh Huggi

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

(NBA Accredited)
K.L.E SOCIETY’

K.L.E. INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,

HUBBALLI-27
2024-25
 K.L.E INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work entitled “Construction activity management of a
building with Primavera P6” is a bonafide work carried out by Ms. Anhar Fatima Kusugal

(2KE22CV002) in partial fulfilment for the award of degree of Bachelor of Engineering in

VII Semester, Civil Engineering from KLE INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY
HUBBALLI under Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi during the year
2024-25. The Seminar report has been approved as it satisfies the academic requirements in
respect of project prescribed for the said degree.

Guide Head of the Department Principal

(Prof. Sandesh Huggi.) (Dr. Rajashekar S. Laddimath) (Dr. Manu. T M)
 ABSTRACT

Effective construction activity management is critical to the successful completion of

building projects within the specified time, cost, and quality parameters. This study explores
the application of Primavera P6, a powerful project management software, in the planning,
scheduling, and monitoring of construction activities for a building project. Primavera P6
offers advanced features such as activity sequencing, resource allocation, baseline setting,
and progress tracking, which significantly enhance project control and decision-making.

The research focuses on a case study of a residential ground floor building, detailing the step-
by-step approach to developing a construction schedule using Primavera P6. Key aspects
include the creation of a work breakdown structure (WBS), activity definition and
relationships, resource assignment, and critical path analysis. The use of Primavera P6
enables the identification of potential delays, optimal resource utilization, and proactive risk
mitigation strategies.

The findings demonstrate that Primavera P6 facilitates more accurate forecasting, efficient
activity management, and timely project delivery. The software proves to be an essential tool
for engineers, planners, and project managers seeking to improve productivity and
transparency in construction projects.
INTRODUCTION
Primavera:

Primavera P6 is a robust and widely used project management software developed by Oracle
Corporation. It is specifically designed to handle large-scale, complex projects with a high
degree of precision in planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.
Primavera P6 is extensively used in industries such as construction, engineering, oil and gas,
manufacturing, and infrastructure development.

One of the key strengths of Primavera P6 is its ability to manage thousands of activities,
allocate resources efficiently, and analyze project performance through various reporting
tools. The software supports both single-user and multi-user environments, making it suitable
for individual planners as well as large project teams.

In construction projects, Primavera P6 plays a critical role in developing detailed schedules,

identifying the critical path, managing dependencies, and tracking real-time progress. It helps
project managers make informed decisions, avoid delays, and optimize the use of labor,
equipment, and materials.

By integrating Primavera P6 into construction activity management, stakeholders gain greater

visibility and control over every phase of the project—from planning and execution to
completion—ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

One of the core features of Primavera P6 is its ability to identify the Critical Path Method
(CPM), helping project managers to focus on tasks that directly affect the project timeline. It
also includes options for setting baselines, tracking actual versus planned progress, and
generating comprehensive reports for stakeholders.

By using Primavera P6, construction professionals can achieve better coordination, reduce
delays, optimize costs, and improve overall project efficiency. Its user-friendly interface,
combined with powerful analytical capabilities, makes it an essential tool for modern
construction activity management.
 SCHEDULING OF A SIMPLE GROUND FLOOR BUILDING BY USING
PRIMAVERA P6 SOFTWARE

PLAN:

1 EPS: ENTERPRISE PROJECT STRUCTURE

In Primavera P6, EPS (Enterprise Project Structure) is the highest-level hierarchy used to
organize all projects within an organization. Under the EPS, individual projects like Project
A and Project B are created and managed separately. Each project can have its own Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS), activities, resources, and schedules. This structure enables
centralized control while allowing detailed tracking and management of each project's
progress.

 PROJECT A
 PROJECT B
2. OBS : ORGANIZATIONAL BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

In Primavera P6, the Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) defines the company’s
management hierarchy and assigns responsibility for project areas.
Roles such as Project Engineer, Site Supervisor, Construction Engineer, and Quality
Control Engineer are included in the OBS. Each OBS element can be linked to specific
WBS elements or projects to define accountability and access rights. This structure ensures
clear responsibility, smooth communication, and controlled project execution.

3 WBS: WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Primavera P6 is a hierarchical decomposition of

the total project scope into manageable sections. It breaks the project into phases,
deliverables, and tasks such as Planning construction, Finishing handover. Each WBS
level organizes activities and resources under specific project components. WBS improves
clarity, planning accuracy, and control throughout the construction process.
4 ACTIVITIES

Scheduling is a core function in Primavera P6 that enables planners and engineers to develop
a realistic, logical, and resource-optimized timeline for a construction project. The aim is to
plan and track every activity from initiation to completion using a structured approach.

Planning and Structural work

 Planning work
 Structural and architectural work

Construction work

 Site clearance
 Marking
 Earth work excavation
 PCC
 Footing
 Earth work filling
 Plinth beam
 Columns
 Beams and slab
 Walls
 Plastering

Finishing work

 Plumbing work
 Painting work
 Electrical work
 Marbles and tiles
 Other finishing works

Handover site to client

 HO-

Add Activities from WBS

In Primavera P6, adding activities from a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a
fundamental step in project planning. The WBS represents a hierarchical breakdown of the
project scope into manageable sections, such as major phases or deliverables. Each WBS
element serves as a container for related activities. When activities are added under a specific
WBS level, they represent the actual tasks required to complete that portion of the work.
These activities are defined by attributes like name, duration, start and finish dates, calendar,
and type. They are also linked through relationships (e.g., finish-to-start) to establish the
logical sequence of the project. By organizing activities under the WBS, planners ensure a
structured and systematic approach to scheduling, resource allocation, progress tracking, and
cost control. This method enhances visibility, accountability, and efficiency throughout the
project lifecycle.

 Open the Activities Screen and select the desired WBS element from the left
pane.
 Click the “Add” (+) button or press Insert to create a new activity under the
selected WBS.
 Enter activity details like ID, name, duration, calendar, and type.

Fig: Activities added from WBS

Defining Activity Relationships
In Primavera P6, predecessors and successors are used to define the logical sequence of
activities in a project schedule.

 A predecessor is an activity that must start or finish before another activity can begin
or end. It determines the timing of the following activity.

 A successor is an activity that depends on the start or finish of a previous activity

before it can proceed.

These relationships help define the flow of work in a project. For example, if "marking " is a
predecessor to "earth work excavation" then " earth work excavation " (the successor) cannot
start until "Marking" is complete. Primavera allows you to link these activities using
relationship types like Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), and
Start-to-Finish (SF), with optional lag or lead times to fine-tune scheduling. Defining
accurate predecessor and successor links is essential for identifying the critical path and
ensuring a realistic project timeline.

Fig: predecessor of activity

Assigning Durations
Assigning durations in Primavera P6 involves estimating the amount of time each activity
will take to complete. Durations are typically entered in days and should reflect the effort
required based on available resources and work conditions. Accurate durations help in
developing a realistic project timeline and identifying the critical path. They can be adjusted
later based on progress or scope changes to keep the schedule aligned with project goals.

Fig: duration assigned to each activity

Activities represented in Gantt chart

A Gantt chart is a widely used project management tool that visually represents the schedule
of activities over time. Each activity or task in the project is displayed as a horizontal bar,
where the length of the bar corresponds to the duration of the activity. These activities are
arranged sequentially along a timeline, allowing easy visualization of the start and finish
dates. In construction projects, activities such as excavation, footing, and plastering are
scheduled with defined durations and logical dependencies, ensuring that tasks occur in the
correct order—for example, footing cannot begin before the PCC is completed. The Gantt
chart also shows activities that can be performed concurrently, facilitating efficient resource
use and reducing overall project duration.
Fig: Gantt chart representing the schedule of activities
Applying Calendars
Calendars in Primavera P6 are essential tools that define the working time framework for
projects, activities, and resources. They govern when work can be scheduled, accounting for
working hours, weekends, holidays, and any special non-working days.

A calendar is a time template that specifies:

 Working days of the week (e.g., Monday to Saturday)

 Non-working days or weekends (e.g., Sunday)
 Working hours per day (e.g., 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a 1-hour lunch break)
 Special holidays or exceptions (e.g., national holidays, rainy days)

To create or customize a calendar:

 Go to Enterprise > Calendars.

 Select Add Calendar or edit an existing one.
 Set:
o Working Days: Mark days of the week as working or non-working.
o Working Hours: Define start and end times for each working day (can
include breaks).
o Holidays & Exceptions: Add specific dates or date ranges as non-working
days (e.g., national holidays, company shutdown days).
o Multiple Shifts: Define more than one working period in a day if applicable
(e.g., 8 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–5 PM).

Fig: create a calendar

 Fig: assign weekly working hours to the project

TOTAL DURATION OF PROJECT

The total duration of a construction project is the sum of all scheduled activities, taking
into account their logical sequence and dependencies..

The start to finish date of a construction project refers to the total duration between the
beginning of the first activity and the completion of the last activity. It marks the overall
timeline of the project from initiation to handover. The start date is usually the day when
preliminary tasks such as site clearance or planning begin, while the finish date corresponds
to the completion of final activities like finishing works and formal handover to the client.
The finish date of the project is determined by the critical path—the longest sequence of
dependent tasks that directly affects the project timeline. This calculated finish date
accounts for non-working days, holidays, and resource availability, providing a realistic
timeline from project start to finish.

FIG: duration of the project

Export project file:
Save or print the project , save the project in pdf format also.
Export the file by selecting the spreadsheet format, select the location and save.

Fig: File export in excel spreadsheet

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Primavera P6 serves as a comprehensive and powerful tool for managing
construction project activities with precision and control. By breaking down complex projects
into manageable activities and sequencing them logically, it enables project managers to plan
efficiently and identify the most critical tasks through the critical path method (CPM). Each
activity can be assigned durations, dependencies, resources, and calendars, making the
schedule both realistic and achievable. The ability to monitor progress in real-time through
Gantt charts and dashboards ensures that any deviations from the plan can be quickly
identified and addressed. Primavera also allows for detailed resource and cost tracking,
helping avoid overallocation, delays, and budget overruns. Its ability to simulate various
scenarios and rebaseline schedules provides flexibility in decision-making. Overall,
Primavera’s activity management ensures better planning, improved communication among
teams, and timely project completion—making it an indispensable tool in the successful
execution of construction projects.