--- title: "Bar chart of irrigation project with milestones" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:bar-chart-irrigation-milestones" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/bar-chart-irrigation-milestones site: BCT Engineering --- # Bar chart of irrigation project with milestones Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling - Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 7 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/bar-chart-irrigation-milestones - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3 ## Question Prepare a bar chart of an irrigation project mentioning at least 6 activities. Also show the milestones in a chart. ## Short answer An irrigation project bar chart includes activities: survey and design (2 months), land acquisition (3), headworks (6), main canal earthwork (5), canal lining (4), canal structures (6), field channels (4), testing and handover (1). Key milestones: design approved (month 2), land ready (4), headworks complete (9), main canal complete (12), field channels complete (15), handover (16). Total project 16 months. ## Answer **Assumption:** a small irrigation scheme (weir, main canal and field channels) of 16 months. #### Activities and durations | Code | Activity | Start (month) | Duration (months) | |---|---|---|---| | A | Survey and design | 0 | 2 | | B | Land acquisition and site clearing | 1 | 3 | | C | Headworks (weir and intake) | 3 | 6 | | D | Main canal earthwork | 4 | 5 | | E | Canal lining | 8 | 4 | | F | Canal structures (culverts, outlets) | 6 | 6 | | G | Field channels and distribution | 11 | 4 | | H | Testing and handover | 15 | 1 | #### Bar chart (months) ```text 0 4 8 12 16 (month) +---------------- A Survey & design |## B Land acquisition | ### C Headworks (weir) | ###### D Main canal earthwork| ##### E Canal lining | #### F Canal structures | ###### G Field channels | #### H Testing, handover | # +---------------- ``` #### Milestone chart Milestones are key events that mark completion of a major stage; `*` shows the planned date. ```text 0 4 8 12 16 (month) +---------------- M1 Design approved | * M2 Land ready | * M3 Headworks done | * M4 Main canal done | * M5 Distribution done | * M6 Handover | * +---------------- ``` | Milestone | Event | Month | |---|---|---| | M1 | Design approved | 2 | | M2 | Land ready | 4 | | M3 | Headworks complete | 9 | | M4 | Main canal complete | 12 | | M5 | Field channels complete | 15 | | M6 | Handover | 16 | The project is finished in **16 months**. Land acquisition must end by month 4 and design approval by month 2; these early milestones are the main control points. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. In the irrigation example, what is the total duration? A. 16 months B. 15 months C. 12 months D. 9 months Answer: A. Testing and handover starts at month 15 and lasts 1 month, so it ends at month 16. (Key point: Project duration) 2. When does headworks (weir and intake) start and finish? A. Start month 0, finish month 6 B. Start month 4, finish month 9 C. Start month 3, finish month 9 D. Start month 8, finish month 12 Answer: C. Start 3 plus duration 6 gives month 9, matching milestone M3. (Key point: Headworks) 3. What is a milestone in this chart? A. A task lasting several months B. A key event marking completion of a major stage C. A resource bar D. A dummy activity Answer: B. Milestones such as design approved or headworks done are zero-duration control points. (Key point: Milestones) 4. Which are called the main early control points? A. Handover at month 16 and canal lining B. Field channels and testing C. Weir and lining D. Design approval by month 2 and land ready by month 4 Answer: D. Early milestones M1 and M2 control the start of later works. 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