COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Planning & Sequencing Work in Civil Construction Projects course. This program is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools, and structured approaches required to plan, coordinate, and sequence civil construction activities efficiently and safely.

In complex infrastructure projects, effective planning underpins productivity, quality, and risk management—while poor planning often results in delays, rework, and avoidable costs. This course emphasises the critical role of project managers, supervisors, and planners in orchestrating the timing and flow of tasks across work fronts.

This course begins by exploring the phases of a typical civil construction project lifecycle, including design, mobilisation, execution, and close-out. Participants will examine how planning integrates with broader project management, particularly in relation to milestones in roads, earthworks, bridge construction, and subdivision developments. Understanding how activities interact across disciplines ensures smoother delivery and risk mitigation from the outset.

Comprehensive planning starts with thorough documentation review. This section examines how to interpret construction drawings, specifications, and project briefs to extract key deliverables, timelines, and site-specific staging requirements. Participants will learn how to verify tolerances, constraints, and compliance benchmarks to inform task sequencing and coordination.

Breaking work into manageable components is essential. This section introduces the development of a work breakdown structure (WBS), grouping construction activities by discipline, area, or sequence. Identifying task interdependencies helps prevent scheduling clashes and ensures logical progression throughout the project.

Methodologies underpin efficiency and compliance. This section covers how to define and document best-practice methods for major civil activities such as excavation, pipe laying, paving, and compaction. Safety, environmental obligations, and productivity considerations are incorporated into methodology planning.

Establishing a logical and efficient work sequence is central to this course. Participants will learn how to manage task interfaces, reduce site congestion, and avoid rework or disruption caused by overlapping crews or out-of-sequence work. Coordination of access, staging, and zone control is explored.

Resource planning is addressed through accurate estimation of labour, plant, and materials for each task. This section outlines crew scheduling, utilisation tracking, and adjusting allocations based on skills, task complexity, and real-time site demands.

Plant and equipment availability must align with task requirements. This section focuses on scheduling mobile plant usage, coordinating shared tools, and managing logistics for maintenance, mobilisation, and fuel resupply—reducing idle time and inefficiencies.

Materials must be scheduled with precision. This section introduces just-in-time delivery practices, lead time management for critical items, and techniques to minimise double handling or congestion in limited laydown areas.

Subcontractor coordination is vital for project continuity. This section addresses scope alignment, sequencing resolutions through coordination meetings, and confirmation of resource availability before handovers—ensuring subcontractors are integrated into the master schedule.

Project schedules form the core of planning. This section explains how to develop bar charts, lookahead schedules, and critical path programs using tools such as MS Project, Primavera, or manual methods. Tasks are linked with durations, predecessors, and resource needs.

Site access, traffic, and staging must be incorporated into work plans. Participants will learn to plan haul roads, pedestrian movements, laydown zones, and sequencing around live assets or roadways—prioritising safety and continuity.

Constraint identification is an essential planning function. This section explores how to anticipate disruptions from weather, permits, ground conditions, or third-party interference, and how to establish contingencies that minimise delay impact.

Progress monitoring ensures that plans remain accurate. This section outlines techniques for tracking completed works, holding planning reviews, and updating work programs to reflect new developments or site realities.

Effective communication reinforces coordination. This section guides participants in issuing instructions, leading pre-starts and daily huddles, and using drawings, checklists, and visual aids to clarify expectations and promote accountability.

Planning must also integrate WHS and environmental controls. This section demonstrates how sequencing can reduce exposure to risk, protect sensitive areas, and align with Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and environmental control measures.

Cost control is closely linked with sequencing. This section illustrates how inefficient task planning can lead to overruns and how aligning schedules with cost tracking helps maintain financial performance and transparency.

Reviewing planning practices supports long-term improvement. This final section focuses on conducting post-stage evaluations, capturing lessons learned from sequencing issues, and updating procedures to improve future project delivery standards.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with structured planning techniques, sequencing strategies, and coordination practices that support the safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery of civil construction projects.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Work Planning in Civil Construction

• Importance of structured planning and sequencing in civil operations
• Impacts of poor planning on productivity, safety, and cost
• Overview of key roles in planning: project manager, supervisor, planner

2. Understanding the Civil Construction Project Lifecycle

• Typical phases: design, mobilisation, site establishment, execution, close-out
• Milestones in roads, bridges, subdivisions, and earthworks projects
• Integration of planning within broader project management

3. Reviewing Project Documentation and Scope of Works

• Analysing construction drawings, specifications, and project briefs
• Identifying key deliverables, timelines, and staging constraints
• Confirming construction tolerances and site-specific requirements

4. Breaking Down Work into Construction Activities

• Creating a work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Grouping tasks by location, discipline, or trade
• Identifying interdependencies between tasks

5. Developing Work Methodologies for Key Activities

• Defining optimal methods for excavation, pipe laying, compaction, and paving
• Considering safety, productivity, quality, and environmental controls
• Documenting methodologies for team reference and approvals

6. Establishing Logical Work Sequences

• Determining the correct order of operations for construction activities
• Managing access, site congestion, and overlapping works
• Avoiding rework or clashes between subcontractors and trades

7. Resource Planning and Crew Allocation

• Estimating labour, plant, and material requirements per task
• Scheduling crews to maximise utilisation and avoid downtime
• Adjusting crew composition based on skillsets and task demands

8. Planning for Plant and Equipment Availability

• Scheduling mobile plant and tool requirements ahead of task execution
• Coordinating shared equipment across crews and work fronts
• Allowing for mobilisation, maintenance, and refuelling time

9. Material Scheduling and Just-In-Time Delivery

• Ordering bulk and staged deliveries based on task progress
• Minimising storage and double handling on constrained sites
• Managing lead times for pre-cast, pipework, asphalt, or specialty products

10. Coordinating with Subcontractors and Service Providers

• Aligning subcontractor scopes with the master program
• Holding coordination meetings to resolve sequencing conflicts
• Confirming availability and dependencies prior to task handover

11. Developing and Using Project Schedules

• Creating bar charts, lookahead programs, or CPM schedules
• Linking tasks with durations, predecessors, and resource assignments
• Using planning software

12. Managing Site Access, Traffic, and Staging

• Planning for haul roads, material laydowns, and plant zones
• Managing pedestrian and vehicle movements safely
• Sequencing works around occupied assets or live roads

13. Identifying and Managing Constraints to Work Progress

• Weather, ground conditions, permits, environmental limitations
• Utility conflicts, third-party works, or stakeholder objections
• Implementing contingency plans for unplanned disruptions

14. Monitoring Progress and Updating Work Plans

• Tracking completed vs planned activities on a daily/weekly basis
• Conducting progress reviews and planning meetings onsite
• Updating work programs to reflect delays or accelerations

15. Communication and Work Coordination with Teams

• Conducting pre-start meetings, shift briefings, and daily huddles
• Issuing clear work instructions and method statements
• Using drawings, maps, and schedules for clarity and alignment

16. Safety and Environmental Integration in Work Planning

• Planning sequencing to reduce exposure to high-risk tasks
• Minimising disturbance to waterways, vegetation, or cultural heritage zones
• Ensuring SWMS and controls are aligned with scheduled activities

17. Aligning Cost Control with Work Sequencing

• Monitoring labour, plant, and material usage against budget
• Identifying inefficiencies due to poor task sequencing
• Aligning progress claims and cost tracking with work performed

18. Reviewing and Improving Planning Practices

• Conducting end-of-stage or post-project planning reviews
• Identifying lessons learned from delays, inefficiencies, or successes
• Updating planning procedures and checklists for future works

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.