--- title: "Gantt, link bar chart, milestone chart" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:gantt-linked-bar-milestone-chart" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/gantt-linked-bar-milestone-chart site: BCT Engineering --- # Gantt, link bar chart, milestone chart Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling - Asked in: 2079 Bhadra, 8 marks - Video: [How to Draw a Gantt Chart - Example #1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5IUNGnM2Fo) — Engineer4Free - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/gantt-linked-bar-milestone-chart - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3 ## Question Explain in brief the Gantt chart, link bar chart and milestone chart with examples. ## Short answer A Gantt chart shows activity bars with progress marking. A linked bar chart adds dependency arrows between bars to show logic. A milestone chart highlights only zero-duration key events on a timeline for top-level control. Example: in a house project, milestones might be site ready, foundation done, and structure done. ## Answer Example project: part of a house project (weeks). #### Gantt chart A Gantt chart shows every activity as a bar against a calendar scale and records progress inside the bar. It is used to compare planned and actual progress. Here `=` shows work done up to week 6 and `#` the work still to do. ```text 0 4 8 12 16 (wk) +---------------- A Site clearing |= | B Excavation | == | C Foundation | ===| D Plinth beam | ## E Walls+columns | | ##### F Roof slab | | ### +---------------- ^ status (wk 6) ``` At week 6, A, B and C are done, D is just starting, and E and F have not yet started. #### Linked (link) bar chart A bar chart in which arrows or links join the finish of a predecessor to the start of its successor. It shows the dependence among the activities. In the figure `>` shows that the next activity starts when the previous one finishes. ```text 0 4 8 12 16 (wk) +---------------- A Site clearing |#> B Excavation | ##> C Foundation | ###> D Plinth beam | ##> E Walls+columns | #####> F Roof slab | ### +---------------- ``` #### Milestone chart It shows only the key events (milestones) of the project on the time scale, such as site ready, foundation complete and structure complete. It is used by top management to see the major targets and to compare planned and forecast dates. ```text 0 4 8 12 16 (wk) +---------------- M1 Site ready |* M2 Foundation done | * M3 Structure done | * +---------------- ``` | Chart | Shows | Main use | |---|---|---| | Gantt | Activities, duration, progress | Monitoring | | Linked bar | Activities and dependence | Planning logic | | Milestone | Key events only | Top-level control | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the main use of a Gantt chart? A. Showing dependence between activities B. Showing only top-level events C. Monitoring by comparing planned and actual progress D. Calculating expected time Answer: C. Gantt bars record work done, so it is a monitoring tool. (Key point: Gantt) 2. What does the link arrow in a linked bar chart show? A. The successor starts when the predecessor finishes B. The activity is a milestone C. The activity has zero float D. Two activities share one resource Answer: A. Links join predecessor finish to successor start, showing dependence. (Key point: Linked bar) 3. Who mainly uses a milestone chart and why? A. Site labour, to assign daily tasks B. Top management, to see major targets and compare planned and forecast dates C. Accountants, to compute interest D. Designers, to calculate loads Answer: B. It shows key events only for top-level control. (Key point: Milestone) 4. Which pairing of chart and main use is correct? A. Gantt chart - top-level control B. Milestone chart - monitoring activity progress C. Linked bar chart - monitoring D. Linked bar chart - planning logic Answer: D. Gantt monitors, linked bar shows logic, milestone gives top-level control. 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