--- title: "Limited resource allocation and smoothing" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:limited-resource-allocation-smoothing-application" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/limited-resource-allocation-smoothing-application site: BCT Engineering --- # Limited resource allocation and smoothing Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling - Asked in: 2082 Bhadra, 5 marks - Video: [Resource Optimization: What's the Difference between Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csv2J7oDDzY) — Online PM Courses - Mike Clayton - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/limited-resource-allocation-smoothing-application - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3 ## Question Define limited resource allocation and resource smoothing. Explain their application for scheduling of a construction project. ## Short answer Limited resource allocation schedules activities so daily demand never exceeds a fixed resource limit, delaying activities and possibly increasing project duration. Resource smoothing shifts non-critical activities within float to reduce peaks while keeping duration fixed. In construction, they set gang sizes, equipment numbers and cash limits. ## Answer #### Limited resource allocation When the amount of a resource (masons, excavators, cement, cash) available per day has an upper limit, the activities must be scheduled so that the daily demand never exceeds that limit. Activities are delayed (even beyond their float) if necessary, so the **project duration may increase**. Method (heuristic): 1. Draw the early-start schedule and find float of each activity. 2. For each day, add the demand of the activities that can start. 3. If demand is above the limit, give priority to the activity with the least float (smallest LST), i.e. critical ones first, and delay the others. 4. Update the schedule day by day until all activities are scheduled. #### Resource smoothing Resource smoothing adjusts non-critical activities **within their float** to reduce peaks, keeping the project duration. It is used when the duration is fixed (time-limited). #### Application to a construction project Example: A foundation excavation (3 days, 3 men), D footing after A (2 days, 2 men), B fencing (2 days, 2 men), C material shed (2 days, 3 men). Critical path A-D (5 days). Early start demand is 8 men on days 1-2. **Limit 5 men:** A and B start on day 1; C (float 3 days) is moved to days 4-5 with D. ```text 5 |# # # # 4 |# # # # 3 |# # # # # 2 |# # # # # 1 |# # # # # +---------- 1 2 3 4 5 day 5 5 3 5 5 men ``` The duration remains 5 days, and the peak falls from 8 to 5 men. **Limit 4 men:** A on days 1-3; B and D on days 4-5; C on days 6-7. ```text 4 | # # 3 |# # # # # # # 2 |# # # # # # # 1 |# # # # # # # +-------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 day 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 men ``` Now the duration increases from 5 to **7 days**. Used in building, road and canal works to decide gang size, equipment number and cash limits, and to find the realistic completion time. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. In limited resource allocation, what may happen to the project duration? A. It may increase, since activities are delayed even beyond float B. It always stays the same C. It always decreases D. It is fixed by the critical path Answer: A. When the daily limit is lower than demand, activities may have to be delayed past their float, lengthening the project. (Key point: Effect on duration) 2. If daily demand exceeds the limit, which activity gets priority? A. The one with the longest duration B. The one needing the most men C. The one with the least float (smallest LST) D. The one with the most float Answer: C. Critical or least-float activities are scheduled first and others are delayed. (Key point: Priority rule) 3. How does resource smoothing differ from limited resource allocation? A. Smoothing is used when duration is fixed and moves activities only within float B. Smoothing is used when resources are fixed and moves critical activities C. Smoothing always lengthens the project D. They are the same method Answer: A. Smoothing is for time-limited projects and keeps duration; limited allocation is for resource-limited projects and may extend duration. (Key point: Smoothing vs limited allocation) 4. In the example (A 3 men, D 2 men, B 2 men, C 3 men), what is the duration with a 4-man limit? A. 5 days B. 6 days C. 8 days D. 7 days Answer: D. With only 4 men, A runs on days 1-3, B and D on days 4-5 and C on days 6-7, so duration rises from 5 to 7 days. (Key point: Worked example result) ## Related in Project Engineering - [Short note: Resource allocation and smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-allocation-smoothing-note) — Project Engineering, chapter 3, asked 4× - [Gantt chart; resource allocation and smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Agantt-chart-resource-allocation-smoothing) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Resource histogram, leveling, limited allocation, WBS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-terms-histogram-wbs) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Resource schedule; leveling vs smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-schedule-leveling-smoothing) — Project Engineering, chapter 3, asked 2× - [Resource leveling and smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-leveling-smoothing-wbs-4level) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Internal risk of Nepalese construction project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Arisk-internal-construction-nepalese-company) — Project Engineering, chapter 5 ## Related in other subjects - [Isolator construction, principle and application](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fswitchgear_and_protection%3Aisolator-construction-principle) — Switchgear and Protection, chapter 4 - [Characteristics of a construction project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aconstruction-project-characteristics) — Construction Management, chapter 1