Project Planning and Estimating Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Engineering PE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Project Planning and Estimating flashcards as text
A project has the following activities with durations: A=5d, B=3d, C=4d, D=6d, E=2d. The network shows A→C→E and A→B→D→E as paths. What is the critical path duration?
Answer: 16 days
Path A→B→D→E = 5+3+6+2 = 16 days, which is longer than A→C→E = 5+4+2 = 11 days, making it the critical path.
Which estimating method uses historical cost data from similar completed projects as its primary basis?
Answer: Analogous estimating
Analogous estimating relies on actual cost data from previous similar projects to estimate future project costs.
A contractor submits a bid of $2,400,000 for a project. If the contractor's overhead is 12% and profit is 8% of the total bid, what is the estimated direct cost?
Answer: $1,920,000
Direct cost = $2,400,000 × (1 - 0.12 - 0.08) = $2,400,000 × 0.80 = $1,920,000.
In earned value management, a project has BAC=$500,000, EV=$300,000, AC=$350,000. What is the Cost Performance Index (CPI)?
Answer: 0.86
CPI = EV/AC = $300,000/$350,000 ≈ 0.86, indicating the project is over budget.
The Master Format specification system used in construction is organized primarily by:
Answer: Work results and construction products
MasterFormat organizes specifications by work results and construction products, providing a standard numbering system for construction documents.
What does a negative float (slack) on a non-critical activity indicate in a project schedule?
Answer: The project cannot meet its deadline without changes
Negative float indicates the project schedule is infeasible and cannot meet its imposed deadline without compressing activities or adding resources.
A construction project uses a unit price contract for earthwork at $8.50/CY. If the estimated quantity is 50,000 CY but the actual quantity is 62,000 CY, what is the final payment for earthwork?
Answer: $527,000
Final payment = actual quantity × unit price = 62,000 CY × $8.50/CY = $527,000.